The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal proceedings against President Bola Tinubu for allegedly failing to take action against contractors who received over N167 billion from 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for unexecuted projects.
The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos under suit number FHC/L/MISC/121/2025, also names the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as a respondent.
In a statement released on Sunday, titled “SERAP Sues Tinubu Over Failure to Prosecute Contractors in N167bn Project Fraud in MDAs,” SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called on the court to order President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to publicly disclose the identities of the contractors and ensure they face prosecution.
Additionally, the organization is requesting a court mandate for the finance minister to publish comprehensive details of the affected projects, including their locations, the funds allocated to each contractor, and the names of the shareholders involved.
“The allegations of corruption involving these contractors have continued to impair, obstruct, and undermine the access of poor Nigerians to essential public goods and services,” SERAP argued in its suit.
According to SERAP, the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024, revealed that 31 MDAs collectively paid over N167 billion for projects that were never carried out.
Notably, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. alone reportedly disbursed N100 billion to companies for unexecuted projects.
Other MDAs implicated 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 Gashua
- Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
SERAP maintained that allowing companies and contractors to walk away with public funds unpunished amounts to a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and international obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“Holding these contractors accountable would help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in public spending,” SERAP stated.
“The consequences of corruption are felt by citizens daily. It forces them to bear additional costs for health, education, and administrative services,” the suit added.
SERAP emphasised that public accountability is a hallmark of democracy and that Nigerians deserve full transparency on how their resources are managed.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
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