A civil society group, Global Integrity Watch (GIW), has called for access to the financial and audit records of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) for 2023, 2024 and 2025 to clarify how issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report were addressed.
The civil society organisation, which made the request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, said it was particularly interested in audit observations involving transactions with a combined value of about ₦1.409 billion.
GIW, however, stressed that the figure represented the aggregate value of transactions referenced in audit observations and should not be interpreted as evidence that the money was stolen or misappropriated.
The organisation also announced the launch of the New Nigeria Public Accountability Initiative (NNPAI), a nationwide programme it said would focus on unresolved audit observations, financial compliance, internal controls and the implementation of recommendations contained in public-sector audit reports.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, GIW Nigeria spokesperson, Comrade Tijani AbdulMumin, said the initiative followed the organisation’s engagement with NiDCOM over its FOI request.
According to GIW, NiDCOM had declined access to some of the additional information requested, citing Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
The organisation also said its activities had been characterised by the commission as “blackmail and witch-hunting”, a description GIW rejected.
AbdulMumin said the organisation’s objective was to strengthen public institutions through evidence-based scrutiny rather than target individuals.
Speaking after a GIW executive meeting in London on August 17, 2026, the organisation’s Executive Director, Comrade Abraham Temitayo Adewoye, said its approach would be guided by documentary evidence and the right of institutions to respond.
Adewoye said: “Our commitment to fighting corruption and promoting accountability is non-negotiable. We will follow the evidence, allow institutions to respond and ensure that credible public-interest concerns receive the attention they deserve.
“GIW emphasises that NNPAI is not about targeting individuals, but about strengthening institutions and protecting the public interest. GIW will distinguish between audit findings, allegations and facts before publishing its findings.”
GIW said its review of material relating to the Auditor-General’s Report on Non-Compliance for the 2023 audit period identified several quantified observations.
The organisation said the observations required clarification, reconciliation and documentary verification, including confirmation of any recoveries recommended by the audit process.
Adewoye said GIW’s focus was on determining what happened after the audit observations were raised.
He said: “Were the questioned payments properly authorised? Were procurement procedures followed? Were the contracted goods and services actually delivered? Were taxes properly deducted and remitted? Were recommended recoveries made? Were the five vehicles subsequently located and verified?
“What management responses were ultimately submitted to the Auditor-General and relevant oversight bodies? According to GIW, answers to those questions should be established through documentary evidence rather than media exchanges.
“An audit observation is not automatically proof of corruption or misappropriation. Our responsibility is to identify accountability questions, request explanations, examine the evidence and report the position fairly.”
The organisation also raised questions concerning five vehicles which it said were recorded in NiDCOM’s books but were reportedly not sighted during a physical verification exercise.
GIW said the matter required further documentary clarification rather than assumptions about the whereabouts or status of the vehicles.
On records reportedly lost during a burglary at NiDCOM in July 2024, Adewoye said the commission had provided the organisation with an interim investigation report from the Nigeria Police Force.
According to GIW, the report referred to the loss of computers, a hard drive, a flash drive and files containing procurement and other official documents.
Adewoye said the loss of physical records should not necessarily prevent efforts to verify public expenditure, noting that electronic backups, registry entries, financial-system records and copies submitted to other government agencies could potentially assist the process.
He said GIW was seeking NiDCOM’s Annual Reports and Financial Statements for 2023, 2024 and 2025, as well as relevant audit reports, management responses and supporting financial and procurement documents.
According to him, the records would enable the organisation to assess the status of the audit observations and establish which matters had been addressed, reconciled or remained subject to further clarification.
Adewoye also said GIW would examine a February 1, 2024 document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supplied by NiDCOM concerning an earlier petition.
He said the document indicated that the ministry had reviewed the petition and concluded that the allegations contained in it could not be substantiated.
GIW said it acknowledged the ministry’s position and would take it into consideration while examining the separate issues contained in the Auditor-General’s observations.
The organisation called on NiDCOM management to provide lawful and transparent responses to the outstanding questions.
GIW said its call for greater accountability should not be interpreted as a determination of wrongdoing against any individual, adding that public institutions should have an opportunity to respond to audit observations and provide supporting documentation.
It said: “It is based on the principle that public office is a public trust and must be exercised in the interest of the Nigerian people.”
The organisation also expressed support for the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying such reforms should be accompanied by strong accountability and internal controls across government institutions.
According to GIW, the size and complexity of the public sector make it impractical for the President to personally monitor every transaction and administrative decision across government agencies.
It therefore argued that independent civil-society scrutiny could complement existing oversight mechanisms by bringing documented concerns to the attention of relevant authorities.
“GIW’s objective is to support good governance by identifying potential weaknesses, requesting evidence and encouraging corrective action—not to undermine legitimate government reforms,” the organisation said.
