The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu over his alleged failure to prosecute contractors who received over N167 billion from 31 ministries, departments, and agencies for unexecuted projects.
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.
In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called on the court to compel President Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to disclose the names of the contractors and ensure their prosecution.
“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 its legal filing.
The organization also seeks a court order mandating Edun to publish details of the projects, including their locations, the amounts disbursed, and the identities of the contractors and their shareholders.
SERAP’s lawsuit references the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was published on November 13, 2024. The report uncovered that 31 MDAs collectively disbursed over N167 billion for projects that were never executed.
Among the implicated agencies, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. reportedly spent N100 billion on contracts without any completed projects. Other MDAs cited in the report include, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Pension Commission, Abuja, Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project Office, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, 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, Federal University of Gashua, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
SERAP warned that failure to hold these contractors accountable would violate Nigeria’s Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and international obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“Allowing companies and contractors to walk away with public funds without consequences amounts to a grave violation of the law,” the organization stated.
The group also emphasized the broader impact of corruption, noting that it “forces citizens to bear additional costs for health, education, and administrative services,” while undermining public trust in government institutions.
According to SERAP, ensuring transparency and accountability in public spending is essential for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. “Nigerians deserve full transparency on how their resources are managed,” the statement added.
