The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, demanding an urgent investigation and protection for a whistleblower, Mr Mubarak Bello, following threats to his life.
In a letter dated September 18, 2025, and signed by Busola Ajibola, the Deputy Director of Journalism Programme at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), the coalition said Bello, an entrepreneur based in Katsina State, has faced arrests, threats, and intimidation after exposing a police payroll racket.
According to a report published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) on September 16, 2025, and titled ‘Police hound whistleblower after exposing payroll racket’, Mr Bello was arrested on September 13, 2025, after a routine night patrol intercepted his Toyota Corolla. During the routine night patrol, the state police PRO alleged they recovered a locally made rifle, live cartridges, and a fake police ID card. Following his arrest, the police issued a statement accusing him of impersonation, possession of a fake police identity card, and unlawful possession of firearms.
However, the report by ICIR states that Mr Bello was arrested after he blew the whistle on a ghost police workers’ scheme allegedly perpetrated by the Katsina State police command some years ago. Mr Bello, who has been working on this payroll fraud since 2017, alleged that there was an attempt to enlist him and one Muhammad Hussaini to join the payroll racket.
In 2021, Mr Bello exposed the ghost workers’ racket in the police payroll in Katsina State, following which he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Police Service Commission (PSC). He provided details about the payroll fraud to the listed agencies, which he was privy to through his business centre activities inside the Katsina State police headquarters complex.
Given the gravity of this situation, following the numerous attacks and threats Mr Bello has faced and the imminent threat to the safety of his family, the CWPPF requested that the Nigerian Police Force provide Mr Mubarak Bello and his family with adequate security and protection to ensure their safety until this matter is fully resolved.
The Group also requested that the Nigerian Police Force conduct a prompt, thorough, and diligent investigation into the alleged payroll fraud scheme, the allegations against him by the police, and take all necessary action to apprehend all perpetrators and prevent any further harm to Mr Bello and his family.
The letter was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN; the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN; the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu Esq; the Katsina State Attorney General, Hajiya Fadila Mohammed Dikko; and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, RT. Hon Michael Etaba Irom.
The signatories to the petition included the 30 organisations under the CWPPF, including Premium Times, Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, Daily Trust Newspaper, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Civic Media Lab, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), International Press Centre (IPC), International Press Institute, Nigeria (IPI Nigeria), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Paradigm Initiative, and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Others include HEDA Resources Centre, WikkiTimes, Global Rights, Dataphyte Foundation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, FOLEGAL, Women Radio 91.7 FM, Inibehe Effiong Chambers, BUK TV & RADIO, The Jurist Newspaper Limited, Freedom Radio, Kano, Citizens Gavel Foundation for Social Justice, Hope Behind Bars Africa, Digicivic Initiative, and EiE Nigeria.
