FG Flags N288 Billion Financial Irregularities Under Former INEC Chairman Yakubu
- The Auditor-General’s 2022 report flagged N288 billion in financial irregularities within INEC’s operations
- Findings revealed questionable procurement processes, undocumented contractor payments, and unretired advances between 2018 and 2019
- Despite INEC’s defence citing presidential approvals, auditors described several responses as unsatisfactory and called for accountability
The Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for 2022 revealed that a total of N288,188,772,947.06 was flagged in the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to PUNCH, the report detailed several issues in the commission’s financial activities between 2018 and 2019 under the chairmanship of Mahmood Yakubu. These included irregularities in procurement processes, payments to contractors, non-retirement of advances, and failure to remit statutory deductions.
Source: Twitter
Smart card readers procurement under scrutiny
One of the key audit observations involved the payment of N5,312,238,499.39 for the supply of Smart Card Readers ahead of the 2019 general elections. The procurement was carried out through a restricted method without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The contract exceeded the approval threshold of the Tender Board and was not cleared by the Federal Executive Council, PUNCH reported. Instead, presidential approval was obtained under Section 15(2) of the Public Procurement Act, which auditors noted did not apply to the procurement of smart card readers.
Additional mobilisation fees and disbursements were reportedly made without adequate documentation or evidence of supply.
INEC management responded:
“The observation is noted. However, due process was strictly adhered to in the award of the contract. Approval was obtained from the Presidency, vide a letter with Ref. No. PRES/122/INEC/2 of 21 June, 2018.”
The commission added that mobilisation was necessary to ensure timely delivery of the Smart Card Readers before the elections.
However, the Auditor-General described the response as unsatisfactory.
Payments without evidence of supply
The audit also queried N4,505,220,044.06 paid as 35 per cent contract sums to six contractors without documentary evidence of supplies. Conditional Advance Payment Guarantees were reportedly used in violation of regulations, while procurement records and contractors’ eligibility documents were not made available for review.
Another finding involved N331,228,070.04 paid to contractors under doubtful circumstances, with inconsistencies in supporting documents. Some payments were said to have been made before contract awards.
Stamp duty and advances irregularities
The report revealed that payments totalling N235,799,616,436.77 were made to contractors without the mandatory deduction of one per cent stamp duty, amounting to N2,193,484,804.06. INEC was said to have provided no justification for failing to remit the statutory charge.
In addition, N630,625,319.80 granted as non-personal advances to officials remained unretired at the time of audit. Some officers reportedly received multiple advances without retiring previous ones.
Ballot printing and vehicle procurement issues
Contracts worth N41,312,066,801.00 for the printing of ballot papers and result sheets were flagged due to the absence of evidence showing contractors’ eligibility or relevant experience. These contracts were also awarded without Federal Executive Council approval or a “No Objection” from the BPP.
The supply of four Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles at N297,777,776.00 was also questioned, with auditors noting that the contract sum exceeded prevailing market prices at the time of purchase.
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Auditor-General calls for accountability
INEC maintained that due process was followed in its procurements and payments, citing presidential approvals and the urgency of election-related activities.
The Auditor-General, however, insisted that several responses were unsatisfactory and stated that the findings would remain valid until recommendations were implemented.
The report recommended that the INEC Chairman account to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly for the queried sums, recover irregular payments, and remit them to the treasury.
It warned:
“Otherwise, sanctions relating to irregular payment, and failure to manage public funds effectively prescribed in paragraphs 3106, and 3115 of the Financial Regulations (2009) respectively, should apply.”
Source: Twitter
Court ordered arrest of former INEC chairman Yakubu
Legit.ng earlier reported that Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun state, has issued a directive for the arrest and imprisonment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, citing his failure to comply with a prior court judgement.
The order, delivered on Monday, September 29, 2025, came just days before Yakubu officially stepped down as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having completed his tenure.
The court’s ruling stemmed from a suit filed by the Action Alliance, marked FHC/OS/194/2024, which sought to compel INEC and its then-chairman to reinstate the names of the Rufai Omoaje-led national executive committee on the commission’s website.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
