In a statement sent to Naija News on Sunday, SERAP disclosed that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is also listed as a respondent in the case.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday under Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/121/2025, SERAP seeks a court order compelling President Tinubu to:
1. Direct the AGF to prosecute all companies and contractors who received public funds for projects that were never executed.
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 team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Oluwakemi Agunbiade, argues that:
SERAP emphasized that Nigeria’s democratic governance depends on public accountability, stating: “The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to practice.”
According to the 2021 Annual Audit Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024, the 31 MDAs paid ₦167,592,177,559.40 to companies for unexecuted projects.
The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET) alone allegedly paid ₦100 billion to companies for projects that were never completed.
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 maintains that transparency is key to accountability, urging the government to disclose all information related to these fraudulent contracts.
“Nigerians have the right to democratic governance, to influence government decisions, and to assess progress while holding officials accountable,” SERAP stated.
Naija News reports that the court has yet to fix a hearing date for the case.
