A major coalition of Nigerian civil society organizations has made a stunning reversal, formally withdrawing serious corruption allegations it had leveled against the head of the country's public procurement agency and issuing a full public apology.
Coalition Makes Full Retraction and Apology
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO), which brings together more than 17 registered advocacy groups from across Nigeria, has completely retracted its claims of financial misconduct against the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, and his Chief of Staff, Olanrewaju Obasa. In a statement released on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Abuja, the coalition described its earlier accusations as "false, baseless, and deliberately fabricated."
The statement, which carried the signatures of representatives from all 17 member organizations, extended an unreserved apology not only to Dr. Adedokun and Mr. Obasa but also to the entire BPP management, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Federal Government. Signatories included prominent figures such as Ibrahim Bello of CFTPI, Hajiya Fatima Sani of CWGG, Barr. Chukwudi Eze of ADVI, and Dr. Ngozi Okeke of NCACW.
From Planned Protests to a Vote of Confidence
The original allegations, which included charges of financial impropriety, abuse of office, and the monetization of Certificates of No Objection, had escalated to the point where some CCSO members scheduled a national rally for December 5. This protest was planned to take place at the BPP headquarters and the National Assembly complex.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn following an emergency meeting of all coalition members. The CCSO leadership stated that after a thorough review of official BPP records and evidence provided by the Bureau, they found the allegations to be completely untrue. The coalition declared a unanimous resolution that the claims were fabricated by interests opposed to the ongoing reforms at the BPP.
In a significant about-face, the coalition did not just apologize but also passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Dr. Adedokun. They praised his "historic achievements" in transforming Nigeria's public procurement system. Key reforms highlighted by the CCSO include:
- Blocking financial leakages through stricter enforcement of due process.
- Establishing critical new units: the Price Intelligence Unit, Procurement Surveillance & Audit Unit, and Monitoring & Evaluation Unit.
- Advancing the Nigeria First Policy and Affirmative Procurement to boost inclusion for women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises in federal contracts.
Cancellation and Call for Media Retraction
As a direct consequence of its findings, the CCSO announced the immediate cancellation of the planned December 5 protest. The coalition directed all its state chapters, zonal coordinators, and partner networks to stand down from any protest activities.
The group also commended the BPP leadership for its transparency during the clarification process. Furthermore, the CCSO issued a call to action, urging all media organizations, online platforms, and individuals who had circulated the initial allegations to retract their reports and correct the public record to prevent the spread of misinformation.
This episode underscores the volatile nature of public accountability in Nigeria and highlights the importance of verifying claims before they escalate into public actions. The CCSO's public retraction serves as a notable example of an organization publicly correcting a significant error after engaging directly with an institution's evidence.
