BY AHMED AKANBI
The Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI) has defended the Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) over reports alleging N10.69 billion payment to companies linked to businessman, High Chief Dr Kenneth Ifekudu.
The group insisted the transactions underwent full government verification procedures before disbursement and were not arbitrary payments.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Ambassador Yomi David, TADI dismissed a publication by SecretsReporters on the payments, describing it as misleading and lacking understanding of Nigeria’s public financial management system.
TADI maintained that the payments were processed through established government financial systems and subjected to verification by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
It said official payment records from April 2023 to 2026 show NSPRI disbursed a total of N55.62 billion in 510 transactions to 221 beneficiaries.
Of this sum, eight companies identified as linked to Ifekudu reportedly received N10.69 billion through 63 payments, representing about 19.2 per cent of the institute’s total payments in the period.
The companies, according to TADI, belong to three business families – Diamond, Gold Reef and Gorrion – with N4.28 billion paid to three Diamond companies, N3.68 billion to three Gold Reef companies and N2.73 billion to two Gorrion companies.
The group also listed Ken Vic Moore Biz Ventures as a separate beneficiary that received about N1.89 billion in nine payments, clarifying that the sum was not part of the N10.69 billion in question.
TADI explained that projects processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) require BPP approvals, letters of award, contract agreements, interim payment certificates, completion certificates and evidence of execution.
It added that transactions undergo internal audit checks and final verification by the OAGF, including checks on tax, pension compliance and other statutory deductions.
According to the group, the Executive Director of NSPRI does not independently authorise final release of funds, as payments pass through government mechanisms.
TADI also faulted claims that NSPRI abandoned its core research mandate for infrastructure projects, noting that federal research institutes have been assigned constituency intervention projects in the national budget.
It said such projects include roads, erosion control, solar streetlights, boreholes, solar dryers, agricultural inputs, grains, fertiliser, tricycles and minibuses, many nominated by National Assembly members.
The group listed projects executed in Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Sokoto, Imo, Edo and Bauchi, saying NSPRI only implemented what was appropriated to it.
On allegations of identical payment amounts to different firms, TADI said the pattern reflects lotting and framework contracting where contractors execute comparable projects in different locations at standardised rates.
It cited payments made on November 20, 2023, September 23, 2024 and September 11, 2025, involving roads, boreholes, streetlights, solar dryers and agricultural supplies.