From Aruga Joe Omokaro/Haruna Tula – Abuja
The SUPREME reported last week that, the security item we referred to in our previous publication is an aircraft. We also reported that the immediate past Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egberokun was allegedly involved in the delay of the aircraft not arriving Nigeria since last year (2025), even after it had been allegedly paid for by the Federal Government.
However, a close associate of Kayode Egberokun exonerated the former IGP of any complicity.
Reacting to our story in a telephone conversation on Saturday 14/3/26, the close associate explained that, “the former IGP is not the one who does the purchasing. It is a contractor who is approved by the Federal Government.” (Identity of contractor not disclosed.).
“The police (IGP) makes request base on specification on the type of an aircraft or helicopter needed, and the Federal Government approves, then a contractor does the supply to the police who is the end user.”
The associate continued: “The delay in delivery is usually not from the police but from the manufacturer. This is because, when an order is placed, there is the tendency that, the manufacturer has requests lined up. So, they (Nigeria Police Force) has to queue for their turn. That can take a year or more.”
According to the person, before the manufacturer commences production, about 14 per cent of the total cost has to be paid. Payments are in three stages. After the production has reached a certain stage, the manufacturer demands for another payment.”
The associate explained further that, “when the job reaches 90 per cent completion, the manufacturer demands for full payment. When the aircraft is ready, the contractor informs the IGP to send a Police pilot to meet the pilot of the manufacturer to test run the aircraft. The IG inturn informs the Police Airwing to deploy a pilot to the manufacturer abroad to test run the aircraft.
So, it takes a lot of processes, before an aircraft is manufactured to the specification of the person or government placing an order for supply.”
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