The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu over his administration’s alleged failure to prosecute contractors who received over N167 billion from 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for projects that were never executed, 9am news reports.
The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos (Suit No. 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 SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization is seeking a court order compelling Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to publicly disclose the names of the contractors and prosecute those involved.
The legal action follows findings from the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024, which revealed that 31 MDAs collectively disbursed over N167 billion for projects that were never carried out. Among the agencies implicated, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc alone reportedly paid N100 billion to companies without any corresponding project execution. Other affected MDAs include the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Federal College of Land Resources Technology in Owerri, and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
SERAP contends that failing to prosecute these contractors 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 argued.
The suit emphasizes that holding these contractors accountable is critical to preventing further financial mismanagement and ensuring that public funds are used for their intended purpose. “The consequences of corruption are felt by citizens daily. It forces them to bear additional costs for health, education, and administrative services,” SERAP stated.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, stating that Nigerians deserve full accountability regarding how public resources are managed. No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
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