The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu for failing to investigate and prosecute contractors who allegedly received over N167 billion from 31 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) without executing any projects.
SERAP had earlier urged the president to instruct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, to probe the matter. The suit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos by SERAP’s legal team, seeks a court order compelling Tinubu to direct Fagbemi to take appropriate legal action against the contractors and companies involved.
The organization is also pushing for Edun to publicly disclose the names of the companies and contractors who received the funds, along with details of the projects, including their locations and the specific amounts collected by each entity.
SERAP argues that the alleged corruption involving these funds has deprived many Nigerians of essential public goods and services. The organization believes holding those responsible accountable will help prevent further mismanagement of public resources.
According to SERAP, allowing companies and contractors to escape consequences for misusing public funds would undermine governance and increase the financial burden on ordinary Nigerians, who already struggle to access healthcare, education, and other essential services.
The allegations, SERAP contends, represent a serious violation of the Nigerian Constitution, the country’s anti-corruption laws, and international anti-corruption agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory. The group insists that transparency in public spending is crucial for reducing corruption and ensuring better governance.
The suit references the 2021 annual audit report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024, which revealed that 31 MDAs paid over N167 billion for projects that were never executed. Notably, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) alone reportedly disbursed N100 billion to contractors without any corresponding project delivery.
Other implicated MDAs include the Nigerian Correctional Service, National Pension Commission, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, among others.
SERAP emphasizes that transparency and accountability are fundamental to democratic governance and urges the government to uphold these principles. The organization maintains that ensuring justice in this case would reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to combating corruption and promoting responsible public spending.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the case.