The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to investigate allegations of corruption against the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, following a mass protest at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Members of the Conference of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability (COCTA) led the protest, demanding the immediate removal of Dr. Adedokun and a comprehensive probe into alleged corrupt practices within the BPP. The protesters also called for an investigation into more than 100 bank accounts reportedly linked to the alleged receipt of bribes in exchange for the issuance of Certificates of No Objection.
The allegations, contained in a petition earlier submitted to the EFCC by a legal practitioner, Musa Aliyu, Esq., accuse Dr. Adedokun and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Olanrewaju Obasa, of operating proxy and unofficial bank accounts, receiving foreign exchange and other financial inducements from contractors, and accepting vehicles and other gratifications connected to procurement approvals. COCTA stressed that these claims remain allegations and not findings of guilt.
Addressing the protesters, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, assured that the commission would thoroughly investigate the matter. “We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice,” Oyewale said, reaffirming the EFCC’s commitment to accountability and due process.
COCTA also disclosed that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has been petitioned to verify the asset declarations of Dr. Adedokun and members of his household, as part of broader efforts to ensure transparency.
In a formal letter to the EFCC Chairman, COCTA urged the commission to commence an immediate and impartial investigation, recommend the suspension of the BPP Director-General pending the outcome of the probe, and provide periodic updates to the public in line with legal protocols.
The BPP is the federal agency responsible for regulating public procurement and ensuring transparency in government contracting. Civil society groups say the allegations, if substantiated, could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s procurement system and highlight the need for stronger oversight.
As Nigeria continues its fight against corruption, the EFCC’s response to the petition and protests is expected to draw close public scrutiny in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has dismissed allegations of corruption and monetisation of Certificates of No Objection circulating in sections of the media, social platforms and some civil society groups, describing them as false, malicious and misleading.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Bureau stated that neither the Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Olanrewaju Obasa, nor any member of its top management has engaged in corruption, financial misconduct or abuse of office.
The BPP said it operates strictly in line with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, supported by transparent, multi-layered and digitally monitored systems that make such allegations “baseless and practically impossible without detection.”
According to the Bureau, recent reforms introduced to strengthen procurement processes — including stricter enforcement of due process, tightening of procurement reviews, blocking of leakages and benchmarking of inflated contract prices — have disrupted entrenched interests and led to the exit of personnel unable to adapt to the new system.
“It is therefore not unexpected that beneficiaries of a previously compromised system may resort to blackmail, petitions and sponsored media narratives in an attempt to smear the leadership of the Bureau,” the statement said.
The BPP noted that despite the allegations, it remains committed to safeguarding public resources and promoting accountability in public procurement. It highlighted key reforms undertaken in the past year, including the introduction of affirmative procurement, establishment of the Price Intelligence Unit, Procurement Surveillance and Audit Units, as well as Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms.
The Bureau also said it has led the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy, strengthened the participation of small and medium-scale enterprises in public procurement, and advanced the classification and categorisation of contractors. It added that the contractor classification framework is scheduled to become fully operational by January 2026 to ensure projects are awarded strictly in line with verified technical and financial capacities.
Reaffirming its openness to scrutiny, the BPP welcomed any investigation by relevant authorities, pledging full cooperation and access to documents, financial records and institutional logs.
“We have absolutely nothing to hide. All official accounts and transactions within the BPP are audited, transparent and traceable,” the statement said.
The Bureau urged the public to disregard misleading reports and called on the media to verify information before publication, warning that reckless reporting undermines public trust and damages reputations.
Signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Zira Zakka Nagga, the statement reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to transparency, professionalism and service to the nation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.