The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu, urging the court to compel him to order a full investigation into the disbursement of over ₦167 billion by 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to contractors who allegedly failed to execute any projects.
In the suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, SERAP is asking the court to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, to identify the companies involved and ensure they are held accountable. It also wants the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who is named as a respondent in the case to prosecute those found culpable.
Massive Corruption Allegations
SERAP, in its affidavit, argued that the alleged diversion of funds has significantly obstructed access to essential public services, including health, education, and infrastructure, thereby worsening the plight of poor Nigerians.
According to the 2021 Annual Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation published on November 13, 2024 the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET) alone reportedly paid ₦100 billion to contractors for projects that were never executed.
Other agencies implicated include:
- Nigerian Correctional Service
- National Pension Commission
- Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri
- Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP)
- Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)
- Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development
- Federal Medical Centre, Bida
- National Centre for Women Development
- Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution
- National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
- Federal University of Gasua
- Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
SERAP’s Demands
SERAP insists that enforcing accountability would prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of public resources while ensuring transparency in government spending. The organisation cited Nigeria’s constitutional provisions, anti-corruption laws, and international obligations under the UN Convention Against Corruption, which mandates integrity and honesty in financial transactions.
The lawsuit seeks an order compelling the government to impose proportionate and dissuasive sanctions on the companies involved and recover misappropriated public funds.
“No date has been set for the hearing of the suit,” SERAP noted, as Nigerians await a legal resolution to the massive financial irregularities exposed by the Auditor-General’s report.
