The Auditor General has flagged 52 unjustified contracts within the Correctional Service, stating the agency cannot account for the funds spent on these transactions.
The findings, contained in the audit report for the 2024 financial year, revealed that the 52 contracts form one of three clusters of transactions flagged for lack of transparency and proper documentation. These clusters represent significant gaps in the agency’s financial records regarding procurement and expenditure.
The report highlights a failure to provide necessary evidence to justify the disbursement of public funds allocated to these specific projects. This lack of accountability raises questions regarding the internal controls governing the agency’s procurement processes.
Details of the flagged transactions
According to the audit report released by the Auditor General, the 52 unjustified contracts are part of broader financial discrepancies identified during the review of the 2024 financial year. While the report does not specify the exact monetary value of every contract, it categorises them as transactions where the expenditure could not be verified against physical work or legitimate service delivery.
The audit covers a period involving both the immediate past chairman, Danladi Umar, and the current chairman, Mainasara Kogo. The findings suggest that these financial irregularities may have persisted across leadership transitions, pointing to systemic issues within the agency’s accounting departments.
In Nigeria, audit reports from the Office of the Auditor General serve as critical tools for legislative oversight. Such findings often trigger investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to determine if the unaccounted funds were diverted through fraudulent means.
The Correctional Service relies on its budget for essential operations, including facility maintenance, inmate welfare, and the security of its personnel. The inability to account for funds spent on dozens of contracts suggests that resources intended for these critical areas may have been mismanaged.
The National Assembly is expected to review these audit findings during upcoming committee hearings. Lawmakers typically use these reports to question agency heads and decide on future budgetary allocations for the service.
As of the time of publication, the Correctional Service has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations regarding the 52 contracts or the other two clusters of flagged transactions identified in the report.
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