The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over the alleged failure to prosecute contractors who received over ₦167 billion from 31 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for projects that were never executed.
The case, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos (Suit No. 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 on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the court to compel President Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to disclose the names of the defaulting contractors and initiate legal action against them.
The organisation is also seeking an order mandating Edun to publish full details of the projects, including their locations, contract amounts, and the identities of the beneficiaries.
“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 stated.
According to the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on November 13, 2024, 31 MDAs collectively paid over ₦167 billion for projects that were never carried out.
Among the implicated agencies, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc reportedly disbursed ₦100 billion to companies for unexecuted projects.
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 Gashua
Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
SERAP argued that allowing contractors to walk away with public funds without consequences violates Nigeria’s Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and international commitments under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“Holding these contractors accountable would help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in public spending,” the organisation said, stressing that corruption forces citizens to bear additional costs for essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The group reiterated that transparency and accountability are fundamental to democracy, urging the government to take decisive action against corruption.
A date for the court hearing is yet to be scheduled.
