SERAP seeks account of 78.8 billion naira in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigerian organisation SERAP is suing the government before the ECOWAS Court of Justice to demand an account of 78.8 billion naira intended for cash transfers and social-protection programmes. It is seeking an investigation, the recovery of misused funds and stronger financial controls, according to Punch.
The Nigerian organisation Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has brought a case before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States over 78.8 billion naira intended for cash-transfer and social-protection programmes. It accuses the federal government of alleged misappropriation, irregular spending and failure to account, according to a statement by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, cited by Punch.
The complaint, registered under number ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26 and filed last week, targets the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office. SERAP is asking the court to order a detailed account of the funds, an investigation into the alleged irregularities, the recovery of sums illegally spent or misappropriated, and stronger financial controls.
The irregularities appear in the 2024 annual report of the Auditor-General for the Federation, published on 7 August 2026, and cover periods between January 2023 and 31 December 2024. The funds were intended to benefit more than 3.2 million households in 35 states, according to SERAP.
The organisation believes that failing to investigate and recover the funds could harm the social rights of vulnerable households, including access to food, clothing and housing. The complaint was filed by SERAP lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, according to Punch.
