Kogi State government has debunked allegations by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, concerning the management of the state’s security operations account, describing the claims as politically motivated, speculative and completely devoid of evidence.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, yesterday, the government accused CISLAC of abandoning the principles of fairness, diligence and objectivity by making sweeping allegations without presenting any investigative findings, verifiable evidence or reports from any competent authority.

It expressed concern that an organisation that claimed to champion accountability would publish serious allegations, while admitting that no anti-corruption agency had established wrongdoing against the Kogi State government.

According to the statement, maintaining security requires substantial and continuous investments in intelligence gathering, operational logistics, communications infrastructure, surveillance systems, mobility, community engagement, and strategic support for security agencies.

The government noted that Kogi State had over the years, invested heavily in strengthening its security architecture, resulting in improved intelligence gathering, enhanced operational response and stronger collaboration among security agencies.
These investments, it said, had played a significant role in making Kogi one of the safest states in the country, despite its strategic position as a gateway linking Northern and Southern Nigeria.

Fanwo faulted attempts to portray transactions from a security operations account to companies, contractors and service providers as suspicious, explaining that security interventions necessarily involved the engagement of logistics providers, equipment suppliers, maintenance contractors, transport operators and other essential service providers.

“It is irresponsible to equate the existence of financial transactions with evidence of diversion. Such conclusions can only be reached through investigation, verification and due process, not through assumptions and sensational headlines,” the statement said.

The government argued that CISLAC contradicted itself by acknowledging that the allegations remained unproven, while simultaneously presenting them as established facts.

According to the statement, the publication’s timing is also noteworthy, coming at a period political activities are beginning to gather momentum across the country.

The government observed that such periods often witnessed attempts by vested interests to weaponise misinformation, half-truths and manufactured controversies against governments and public officials.
While refraining from speculating on the sponsors of the publication, the government maintained that some individuals were uncomfortable with a system that prioritised transparency, fairness and due process over narrow personal interests.

The statement stressed that rather than accept outcomes produced by democratic institutions and credible processes, such individuals often sought alternative platforms to advance narratives aimed at distracting attention from government achievements.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the government welcomed lawful scrutiny of public institutions and challenged any individual or organisation with credible evidence of wrongdoing to submit such evidence to appropriate law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
The statement assured residents that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration remained committed to prudent management of public resources, strengthening security architecture and protecting lives and property across the state.
“No amount of misinformation, speculation or politically motivated distractions will deter this administration from its responsibility to secure lives, support security agencies and deepen partnerships that guarantee peace, stability and sustainable development in Kogi State,” the statement added.