SERAP drags Tinubu to court over ₦167 billion project fraud

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to order the prosecution of contractors who allegedly received over ₦167 billion from 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) without executing any projects.

In a statement on Sunday, SERAP revealed that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is also named as a respondent in the case. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday under Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/121/2025, seeks a court order compelling President Tinubu to:

1. Direct the AGF to prosecute companies and contractors who received public funds for unexecuted projects.
2. Instruct the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun, to publish the names of all contractors and companies involved in the fraud.
3. Disclose details of the projects, including their locations, amounts received, and shareholders of the companies involved.

SERAP’s Legal Argument

Led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Oluwakemi Agunbiade, SERAP’s legal team argues that:

• The large-scale corruption scandal denies Nigerians access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
• Prosecuting those responsible would help curb waste, fraud, and mismanagement of public funds.
• Allowing corrupt contractors to escape justice violates the Nigerian Constitution (1999 as amended), anti-corruption laws, and international obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.

SERAP emphasized that public accountability is fundamental to Nigeria’s democratic system, stating: “A government accountable to its people is a key pillar of democracy, which Nigeria aims to uphold.”

According to the 2021 Annual Audit Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024, 31 MDAs collectively paid ₦167,592,177,559.40 to companies for projects that were never executed.

Key revelations include:

• Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET) allegedly paid ₦100 billion for incomplete projects.
• Other affected 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 Gasua
  • Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs

SERAP’s Call for Transparency

SERAP insists that full disclosure of these fraudulent contracts is essential for accountability, urging the government to release all relevant information.

Nigerians have the right to democratic governance, to influence government decisions, and to hold officials accountable for their actions, the organization stated.

At the time of this report, the court has yet to schedule a hearing for the case.

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