SERAP Drags Tinubu to Court Over Alleged N57 Billion Corruption
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu at the Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of failing to investigate and recover N57 billion allegedly misappropriated from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.
Reliefs Sought
SERAP is requesting the court to:
- Compel President Tinubu to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged theft of public funds.
- Prosecute any individuals found culpable if sufficient evidence is established.
- Recover the misappropriated funds and remit them to the public treasury.
Allegations
The case stems from findings in the 2021 audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which uncovered significant financial irregularities in the Ministry’s operations, including:
- N54.6 billion intended for N-Power stipends for Batch C1 beneficiaries allegedly unaccounted for between August and December 2021.
- N2.6 billion allocated for the homegrown school feeding program during COVID-19, reportedly paid to contractors for unexecuted services in Kano, Zamfara, and Abia States.
- N78 million spent on an unauthorized survey of the Ministry’s COVID-19 response without proper documentation.
- N39.5 million in personal donations allegedly reimbursed to the Minister without adequate justification.
The Auditor-General expressed concerns that these funds were likely diverted and recommended sanctions against those responsible, as well as the recovery of the stolen amounts.
SERAP’s Position
SERAP contends that these allegations represent a breach of public trust, violating the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws.
“The allegations signify theft from the poor and undermine public confidence in governance. Addressing this issue is critical to ending impunity, achieving accountability, and alleviating the burden of corruption on low-income Nigerians,” SERAP stated in its affidavit.
Impact of Corruption
The organization highlighted that corruption exacerbates the daily struggles of Nigerians, increasing costs for basic needs like education, healthcare, and administrative services. SERAP also emphasized that granting the reliefs sought would help address corruption within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and mitigate Nigeria’s budget deficit and debt challenges.
Next Steps
The suit, filed by SERAP’s legal team led by Kolawole Oluwadare, awaits assignment to a judge for hearing. Meanwhile, SERAP has urged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate accountability and prioritize anti-corruption reforms to uphold public trust.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is yet to issue a response to the allegations.
