The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu for allegedly failing to prosecute contractors who received over N167 billion from 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for projects that were never executed.
The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos (suit number FHC/L/MISC/121/2025), also names the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as a respondent.
According to a press release issued on Sunday and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization is urging the court to compel President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to publicly disclose the names of the contractors involved and ensure their prosecution.
Additionally, SERAP seeks a court order mandating the publication of project details, including locations, amounts received by each contractor, and shareholder identities.
Massive Corruption Exposed
SERAP’s legal action follows revelations from the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024. The report indicates that 31 MDAs collectively paid over N167 billion for projects that were never carried out.
Among the most alarming cases, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. reportedly disbursed N100 billion to various companies for unexecuted projects. Other implicated MDAs include:
- Nigerian Correctional Service
- National Pension Commission, Abuja
- Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri
- Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) Office
- Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)
- Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development
- Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State
- National Centre for Women Development
- Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution
- National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
- Federal University of Gashua
- Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
Demand for Accountability
SERAP argues that failing to hold these contractors accountable violates the Nigerian Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and international obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“The allegations of corruption involving these contractors have continued to impair, obstruct, and undermine the access of poor Nigerians to essential public goods and services,” the organization stated in the lawsuit.
The organization stressed that prosecuting those responsible would help prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse in public spending.
“The consequences of corruption are felt by citizens daily. It forces them to bear additional costs for health, education, and administrative services,” the suit added.
SERAP emphasized that transparency and public accountability are critical to a functioning democracy, asserting that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how public funds are managed.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the case.