Odita Sunday 
….CAC Record, BPP Letter Contradict Claims of Illegal Police Contract**
By Odita Sunday
Documents obtained by Swift Reporters have raised fresh questions over allegations published by online platform Secretreporter against former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Blue Sea Investments Ltd., with official records contradicting claims that the company was unregistered and secured a Nigeria Police Force contract without due process approval.
The documents, including a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) public-search record and a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) letter addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, provide evidence of the company’s incorporation and procurement review, challenging key assertions contained in the online publication.
The CAC record shows that Blue Sea Investments Ltd., with registration number RC 273945, was incorporated on June 14, 1995, contradicting the allegation that the company was never registered.
Similarly, a BPP letter dated September 10, 2024, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, indicates that the procurement of security equipment worth ₦1.408 billion from M/S Blue Sea Investment Limited was subjected to review.
The letter listed 1,450 NATO Past Type ST-4 helmets valued at ₦638 million and 1,400 units of Armoured Vest 183 valued at ₦770 million.
It also stated that a Due Process Certificate of “No Objection” could be granted for the procurement.
The documents have therefore placed the allegations surrounding the company’s registration and procurement process under scrutiny, even as questions remain about the circumstances of the transactions and the claims made against the former police chief.
Breaking his silence on the allegations, former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun (rtd), said he had instructed his lawyer to commence civil proceedings against the publishers over what he described as defamatory and unacceptable content.
Egbetokun, who had previously ignored what he considered targeted blackmail, said his decision not to respond to the publications in the past was intended to deny their purveyors the publicity they allegedly sought.
He, however, said the approach appeared to have been mistaken for weakness.
“I don’t have time for miscreants who thrive only on blackmail. Responding to them will give the falsehoods unnecessary publicity. I know their sponsors and know their motives,” he said.
The former IGP maintained that he was not perturbed by the allegations and expressed confidence that those responsible would eventually be exposed and held accountable.
“No one contends with a favoured child of God and laughs last,” he said.
An investigation by Swift Reporters found that negative reports about Egbetokun frequently surfaced online amid speculation that President Bola Tinubu might be considering him for another appointment.
Egbetokun, however, neither confirmed nor denied the speculation and declined further comment.
On the controversial police helicopter procurement, a source at Force Headquarters told Swift Reporters that the contract was awarded through due process.
According to the source, funds reached the contractor late and were no longer sufficient to procure the aircraft under the original terms.
The source said the contractor subsequently requested a contract variation, which Egbetokun forwarded to the Bureau of Public Procurement for consideration.
It said the BPP approved the variation before Egbetokun left office, but the funds required to complete the procurement were not available.
The source further disclosed that when the police urgently needed the helicopter for operations against bandits in the North West and North Central, the contractor proposed supplying a fairly used aircraft with the funds already advanced.
However, Egbetokun reportedly rejected the proposal, insisting that the BPP approval covered only a brand-new helicopter.
The source said the revised arrangement had not been paid for when Egbetokun handed over.
It added that the current Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was aware of the situation and working to conclude the procurement and secure delivery of the aircraft.
On allegations relating to feeding and dry-ration payments, sources told Swift Reporters that the IGP approved funding allocations for the Force’s eight departments, 17 zonal commands, 36 state commands and the Federal Capital Territory Command.
According to the sources, heads of the respective departments and commands manage their allocations and operational requirements, while approvals are also made at departmental or command levels.
They explained that items such as tissue paper, cartons of milk and dry rations ordinarily fall under administrative, financial and procurement procedures, depending on the applicable delegations of authority.
The sources argued that it would be unrealistic for the Inspector-General of Police to personally approve every purchase in an organisation as large as the Nigeria Police Force.
They also pointed to the existence of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Public Accounts and Budget and the Force Procurement Officer, who handle financial administration and procurement compliance.
Meanwhile, serving and retired police officers have defended Egbetokun’s record, describing him as a disciplined officer who insisted on due process and rejected gratification.
A serving senior police officer described the former IGP as incorruptible and widely respected within the Force.
“Egbetokun does not seek gratification from anybody, and you may even get into trouble for trying to offer him gratification,” the officer said.
A retired police officer who worked closely with Egbetokun also defended his administrative record, insisting that he adhered strictly to established procedures.
“Egbetokun does not cut corners. He is a man who follows due process to its logical conclusion.”
The retired officer also criticised the circulation of unverified allegations on social media, warning against the damage such publications could cause to individuals and institutions.
Another retired police commissioner alleged that some of those behind the publications were serving officers dissatisfied with Egbetokun’s strict enforcement of rules.
“The thieves are the ones ganging up against Egbetokun to tarnish his reputation with falsehoods by using social media,” he alleged.
The allegation by the retired commissioner could not be independently verified.
As of the time of filing this report, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Aniete Iniedu, was yet to officially react to the publication.
The documents obtained by Swift Reporters provide evidence contradicting claims about Blue Sea Investments Ltd.’s registration and the procurement review, while accounts from sources and retired officers offer additional context to the controversies surrounding the former police chief.
However, the allegations, counterclaims and procurement explanations remain subject to further clarification from the relevant authorities and the parties involved.
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