SERAP Sues Nigerian Leaders Over Missing ₦18.6 Billion Construction Funds, Citing ‘Serious Violation of Public Trust’
ABUJA – A prominent Nigerian anti-corruption organization has launched a high-stakes legal battle against the country’s top legislative leaders, alleging the disappearance of ₦18.6 billion intended for a major government construction project.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed suit last week against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, demanding they account for funds allocated to construct the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Office Complex.
Auditor-General’s Report Sparks Legal Action
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (Case No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025), stems from alarming findings in the 2022 annual report of Nigeria’s Auditor-General of the Federation, published in September 2025.
According to the audit document, the National Assembly Service Commission paid over ₦11.6 billion to “an unknown construction company” for the Commission’s Complex construction in August 2020. Subsequently, an additional ₦6.9 billion was paid to the same entity in November 2023 for “conversion of the roof garden to office space” – a contract allegedly inflated without proper documentation.
Systemic Procurement Failures Alleged
The Auditor-General’s report outlines multiple procedural violations that SERAP claims created conditions ripe for corruption. The contracts were reportedly awarded:
- Without any needs assessment
- Without newspaper advertisements or competitive bidding
- Without contract agreements or bidders’ quotations
- Without Federal Executive Council approval
- Without a Bureau of Public Procurement Certificate of ‘No Objection’
“The contract was reportedly awarded without a Bill of Quantity for the upward adjustment, and the BOQ for the contract of ₦11.6 billion was not priced,” the audit findings state.
Legal Demands and Constitutional Implications
SERAP is seeking court orders compelling the legislative leaders to:
Disclose the identity of the “fictitious construction company” that received the ₦18.6 billion
Provide comprehensive documentation including assessment reports, bid advertisements, construction contracts, and meeting minutes
Account for the whereabouts of the missing public funds
In its legal filing, SERAP argues that “the allegations represent a serious violation of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution, and international anti-corruption standards.”
Broader Impact on Nigerian Democracy and Development
The case highlights the ongoing tension between Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and its political establishment. SERAP’s lawsuit contends that corruption “traps the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprives them of opportunities,” while undermining economic development and violating social justice principles.
“Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the heavy economic and social costs of corruption,” the organization stated. “The National Assembly therefore has a responsibility to curb it.”
The legal action comes at a time when Nigeria faces significant economic challenges, with citizens grappling with inflation and reduced purchasing power. The missing ₦18.6 billion represents substantial resources that could have funded critical public services.
International Obligations and Domestic Law
SERAP’s argument extends beyond domestic law, citing Nigeria’s commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption, which requires proper management of public affairs and public funds.
The organization also references Sections 15 and 16 of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandate public institutions to “abolish all corrupt practices” and ensure national resources are “harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.”
No hearing date has been set for the case, which could become a landmark test of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework and the accountability of its highest legislative officials.
Source: This report is based on original reporting from Persecondnews