The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over the alleged failure to prosecute contractors who received more than N167 billion for projects that were never carried out.
The case, with suit number FHC/L/MISC/121/2025, was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, is also named as a respondent.
In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the group is asking the court to compel President Tinubu to order the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to publicly reveal the names of the contractors involved and ensure they face prosecution.
SERAP also wants the court to direct Edun to publish full details of the projects, including their locations, the amounts paid to each contractor, and the identities of the companies’ shareholders.
“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,” SERAP stated in the suit.
The group based its claims on the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, released on November 13, 2024, which showed that 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) paid over N167 billion for projects that were never executed.
Among the MDAs mentioned, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc reportedly disbursed N100 billion alone to companies for uncompleted projects. Others 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
SERAP argued that allowing contractors to escape without facing justice for misusing public funds violates the Nigerian Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and international agreements like the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“Holding these contractors accountable would help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in public spending,” the organisation stated.
It also stressed that corruption affects Nigerians daily, forcing them to bear extra costs for basic services like health, education, and administration.
“Public accountability is the foundation of democracy, and Nigerians deserve full transparency on how their resources are managed,” SERAP added.
No date has been set yet for the hearing of the case.
