The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu for allegedly failing to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to work alongside anti-corruption agencies in investigating the suspected mismanagement, diversion, or theft of over ₦57 billion in public funds. These funds were reportedly lost from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021, as revealed by a comprehensive audit.
The allegations are based on findings from the 2021 audit report issued by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which exposed significant financial irregularities, prompting concerns about the lack of accountability in public institutions. SERAP believes that immediate action is necessary to address these issues and prevent further mismanagement of public resources.
On Friday, SERAP filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos (case number FHC/L/MISC/876/2024), naming Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi as one of the respondents. The organization is requesting the court to compel President Tinubu to order the Attorney General to investigate the missing funds thoroughly, prosecute those responsible, and ensure the recovery of any stolen resources where evidence supports such actions.
SERAP emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stating, “Investigating and prosecuting those responsible for the missing ₦57 billion, and recovering the funds, would send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated. It would also help end the impunity of those involved.” SERAP further described the alleged financial misconduct as “stealing from the poor” and underscored its importance for public interest, urging that justice be served.
The 2021 audit report disclosed several instances of financial mismanagement within the ministry, including the following flagged transactions:
Over ₦54 billion allocated for stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers between August and December 2021 remains unaccounted for, as payments were reportedly not made directly to the beneficiaries.
₦2.6 billion allocated for the “home-grown school feeding program during Covid-19” was allegedly unspent, and there is no evidence that the program was implemented.
₦78 million set aside for a Covid-19 response survey, ₦39.5 million listed as “personal donations,” and ₦400 million allocated for stipends to independent monitors were flagged as missing or mismanaged.
Additionally, other questionable expenditures include ₦287 million paid to contractors without proper documentation and discrepancies in transactions involving ₦729 billion, which is currently under judicial review.
SERAP’s legal team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Oluwakemi Agunbiade, stated that granting the reliefs sought in the lawsuit would significantly reduce corruption in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). They argued that recovering misappropriated funds would also help address Nigeria’s growing budget deficit and debt crisis.
SERAP cited Nigeria’s constitutional and international anti-corruption obligations, highlighting the necessity for the government to act decisively to restore accountability, ensure restitution, and achieve justice for Nigerians who bear the brunt of public sector corruption.
While the lawsuit represents a major step in addressing financial mismanagement, reports indicate that a hearing date for the case has not yet been scheduled.
[/li]
[/li]
