A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately commence investigation into the alleged diversion of Kogi State’s funds meant for development at the grassroots.
The group, which included African Transparency Initiative (ATI), Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), and Concerned Kogi State Citizens, in a petition to the EFCC chairman, dated November 18, 2025, stated that the alleged fraud was being perpetrated through the “Lokoja Voucher Scheme”.
The petition was titled, “Urgent Investigation and Prosecution of the Systemic Diversion of Kogi State Local Governments’ Fund Through the Lokoja Voucher Scheme.”
It was also copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Auditor-General of the Federation, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), House of Representatives Committee on Public Account and Senate Committee on Anti-corruption.
According to the petitioners, monies are being paid for works allegedly not done through the use of “fabricated vouchers and contracts”.
Besides, the petitioners claimed that while shell companies owned or controlled by politically-exposed persons (PEPs) received the alleged diverted funds, officials of local government area councils were “forced to sign without Bills of Quantity, tender or site verification”.
In addition, the groups accused the Kogi State government of looting 95 per cent of the one per cent monthly allocation of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) through rigged, non-tendered contracts.
The petitioners stated, “We, the undersigned representatives of African Transparency Initiative (ATI), Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), and Concerned Kogi State Citizens, bring this urgent petition to demand a full-scale inquiry into the Lokoja Voucher Scheme that has siphoned billions of naira meant for schools, clinics, roads and other basic services in Adavi, Bassa, Dekina, Idah and Yagba East Local Government Areas.”
The petitioners listed the nature of the fraud as including: Fabricated vouchers and contracts for works never performed,
Shell companies owned or controlled by politically-exposed persons (PEPs) receive the funds, and local government officials are forced to sign without Bills of Quantity, tender or site verification.
They alleged that every month the same fraudulent vouchers were processed, draining the allocations before they reached the communities.
They said he state government, insatiably like a locust, allowed the one per cent LGSC fund to be remitted, but then re-looted 95 per cent of it through rigged, non-tendered contracts.
This, according to the petitioners, forms another facet of the Lokoja fake-voucher syndrome —contracts awarded without any procurement process.
The petitioners claimed that the alleged fraudulent acts of the state officials violated the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (Sections 19, 22, 23) and the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004(Sections 14, 18), Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, (Sections on concealment and conversion).
They prayed EFCC to commence immediate forensic audit of all Kogi local government accounts from January 2024 to date.
They said EFCC should “Identify the true owners of every contractor firm involved;
“Trace, freeze and recover all diverted funds and return them to the affected councils; “Prosecute all public officers, contractors and PEPs complicit in the scheme;
“Recommend institutional reforms to secure LGA autonomy and transparent fund flow;
“Provide a public progress report within 14 days and regular updates thereafter.”
They also called on Kogi indigenes, civil society groups, traditional leaders, and the media to amplify their demand.
The petitioners said, “The people of Kogi cannot wait any longer.”
They expressed the hope that EFCC would act swiftly and transparently.
Among those who signed the petition were Executive Director, Africa, African Transparency Initiative (ATI), Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, who represented ATI; CODWA, Country Director (Nigeria), Comrade Shina Loremikan; Northwest Coordinator/Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement, Kano, Yusha’u Yankuzo; and Chief Operating Officer, 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative, Lukman Adefolahan.
Alex Enumah
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