Lenders Consult International Limited has denied allegations that it misappropriated funds meant for police conferences or shared proceeds with senior officials of the Nigeria Police Force.
The company also dismissed claims that its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Shina Philips, diverted sponsorship funds and shared them with former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and former Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The allegations were contained in a report which claimed that Philips organised conferences for senior police officers, received sponsorship funds from state governors and allegedly accompanied the former police chief on foreign trips where he received allowances improperly.
The report also suggested that the current Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, should investigate the matter.
But in a statement issued on Wednesday, Lenders Consult International said the allegations were false and that the report failed to present the company’s side of the story.
The firm explained that it initiated and has been organising the Nigeria Pitch Awards, which it described as the country’s longest-running football awards programme.
According to the company, its collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force began after it proposed the organisation of an annual Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers as part of efforts to support capacity building within the force.
It said the retreat brings together officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above to engage in peer review and exchange ideas on policing and security challenges.
The firm added that under the arrangement, it was mandated to approach potential sponsors to fund the conference and retreat, noting that the proposal was approved and has been in operation since 2019.
“Our proposal included an obligation that, as initiators, Lenders Consult International would be responsible for approaching potential sponsors to fund the retreat. This arrangement was well received and approved from the outset and has been in place since 2019,” the statement said.
It stated that the maiden edition of the conference was held in 2019 with the Lagos State Government serving as host sponsor.
According to the company, the event was declared open by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the then Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Subsequent editions of the conference, it said, were held in Uyo in February 2022, Owerri between 2022 and 2024, and Abeokuta in 2025.
The company maintained that it had never received any funds from the Nigeria Police Force to organise the conference.
“We would like to state very strongly that we have never, at any time, received any money by way of funding from the Nigeria Police for the sponsorship of the event,” it said.
It added that neither the company nor its Managing Director had ever shared any proceeds with the former Inspector-General of Police or any other police official.
The firm further disclosed that it later proposed the establishment of an annual Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations to recognise outstanding officers within the force.
It said two editions of the awards were held in 2024 and 2025 in Abuja and were fully sponsored by the company and its partners.
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The company also noted that Philips, described as a FIFA-licensed football agent, has maintained a longstanding relationship with the police through various initiatives.
It added that he was appointed a consultant to the police in 2020 to coordinate activities for Police Week 2020, which was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the statement, Philips has continued to support police initiatives without receiving payment, adding that some official trips he undertook alongside the immediate past Inspector-General of Police were self-funded.
The firm reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Nigeria Police Force and maintaining cordial relations with the media.
