Fresh records have revealed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) spent a total of N51,927,480 on the feeding and allowances of escorts attached to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun in December 2024.
According to data published on the Govspend portal, two separate payments amounting to N25,963,740 each were made on December 24 and 28 to Hamat Caterers and Entertainment Services Ltd.
The description attached to the payments was “feeding and allowance of IGP escort for the month of November and December 2024.”
Checks show that Hamat Caterers and Entertainment Services Ltd was incorporated in Kogi State in 2013.
The company is owned and directed by Abdul Lasisi Jimoh and other individuals with the same last name. However, a separate report claims that Jimoh is a serving police officer. A LinkedIn profile bearing the same name also lists him as a police officer.
Further investigations by Foundation of Investigative Journalism, FIJ, revealed that the company has been a frequent contractor for the police.
Between August 2023 and December 2024, Hamat Caterers and Entertainment Services Ltd received a total of N318,427,417 in 17 separate payments.
For example, on September 20, 2024, Police Commands and Formations paid the company N18,629,202 for “feeding 297 police personnel on essential guard duties” at the Police House, Maitama, and other locations for the month of August 2024.
Similarly, on April 3, 2024, the company received another N18,629,202 for providing food to the same number of officers on essential duties in Maitama and other locations for the month of February 2024.