Scandal Erupts: SERAP Demands Probe Into Alleged N6.3 Billion Constituency Fund Diversion

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urgently called upon Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to initiate a thorough investigation into allegations concerning the diversion, misapplication, or disappearance of over \u20a66.3 billion in constituency project funds. SERAP, through a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, implored the National Assembly leadership to refer these serious allegations to relevant anti-corruption agencies for investigation and potential prosecution. The organization emphasized the critical need to ensure that any individual found culpable is prosecuted where sufficient evidence exists, and that all public funds unlawfully diverted or unaccounted for are recovered and remitted to the national treasury.

Furthermore, SERAP demanded transparency by requesting the disclosure of the names of contractors and companies, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, who received funds for constituency projects but allegedly failed to execute them. These allegations, as highlighted by SERAP, originated from the Auditor-General of the Federation's 2022 annual report, which was published on September 9, 2025. According to SERAP, the alleged diversion of over ","6.3 billion represents a significant breach of public trust, a violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and a failure to adhere to international standards.

SERAP underscored that corruption in constituency projects severely undermines economic development, weakens the provision of essential public services, and erodes public confidence in government institutions. The organization stressed that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to address and curb corruption within constituency funds. However, for the legislative body to effectively fulfill its anti-corruption role, it must demonstrate exemplary leadership by actively investigating the allegations of corruption involving projects approved by its own members. SERAP issued an ultimatum, stating that if the recommended measures are not implemented within seven days of the letter's receipt or publication, it would take all appropriate legal actions to compel the National Assembly to comply with its request in the public interest.

The Auditor-General's 2022 report implicated several federal ministries, departments, and agencies in these financial irregularities. These include the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). The report uncovered widespread financial and procurement anomalies such as payments into private bank accounts, contract awards without due process, payments for unexecuted projects or services not rendered, undocumented expenditures, inflated contract costs, and failures to properly account for public funds.

Specific instances of alleged misconduct include: EHORECON reportedly paid more than ","22.9 million into private accounts of staff without evidence of usage, awarded questionable consultancy contracts exceeding ","12 million, and contracts over ","404 million to companies with questionable registration. Further allegations against EHORECON involve undocumented capacity-building contracts worth ","103 million, unauthorized constituency project payments over ","656 million, and over ","389 million for abattoir projects that were allegedly never executed.

The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, was accused of numerous undocumented payments, including over ","279 million for youth empowerment and vocational training programs, mobilization fees to contractors, and contracts awarded without proper procurement evidence. Additionally, it allegedly paid more than ","629 million to unqualified contractors for various projects, from fertilizer distribution to solar street light installations, without adequate documentation or procurement records.

The Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, also faced serious accusations, including over ","407 million in undocumented mobilization fees, ","399 million paid to unqualified contractors, and inflated solar power and streetlight contracts by over ","192 million. Other allegations against the polytechnic include undocumented constituency allowance payments exceeding ","83 million, ","276 million paid for partially executed projects, and ","50 million for a solar borehole project awarded for an already existing facility.

NAPTIP was cited for irregularly awarding contracts worth more than ","21 million for child labor sensitisation in Kogi State to companies linked by common ownership details, with discrepancies found in training activity and beneficiary records. Moreover, NAPTIP allegedly paid over ","176 million (\u20a6176,823,565.10) to contractors for logistics, security, consultancy fees, and sensitisation programs "without any documents." It also reportedly paid over ","89 million (\u20a689,642,300.00) to contractors for solar lights in Yobe-North Senatorial District, where contractors were fully paid but failed to execute the projects. Another irregular contract for over ","4 million (\u20a64,463,300.00) for classroom renovation and furnishing in Kaltungo/Shangom Federal Constituency, Gombe State, was also highlighted, where the contractor was fully paid but no project was executed.

The National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) reportedly failed to submit its audited financial statements to the Auditor-General of the Federation for the period between 2012 and 2022 without justification. NILDS was also alleged to have failed to remit more than ","15 million in stamp duties deducted from contracts for its permanent site construction and spent ","1.6 million without the required authorization from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

SERAP concluded by reiterating that corruption in the management of public funds disproportionately impacts poor and vulnerable Nigerians, exacerbating access to essential services and deepening poverty. The organization urged the National Assembly to demonstrate leadership in addressing these alleged corruption issues involving constituency projects and NILDS as part of its crucial oversight responsibilities. SERAP added that these alleged irregularities violate constitutional provisions mandating public institutions to combat corruption, as well as the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Public Procurement Act 2007, which demand transparency, accountability, and due process in the management and procurement of public funds.