The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated 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 collaborate with anti-corruption agencies to investigate claims of over 57 billion naira in public funds being mismanaged, diverted, or stolen from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.
The allegations stem from the 2021 audited report released by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which highlighted significant irregularities. Fagbemi is listed as a respondent in the suit.
Filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos under suit number FHC/L/MISC/876/2024, SERAP is urging the court to mandate President Tinubu to direct Mr. Fagbemi to initiate a thorough investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds.
The group is also seeking prosecution of any individuals implicated and recovery of the missing public funds where sufficient evidence is available.
SERAP emphasized the critical need for justice, stating, “Investigating the allegations and prosecuting those suspected to be responsible for the missing N57 billion and recovering the missing funds would end the impunity of perpetrators.”
The organization further described the alleged misconduct as “stealing from the poor” and stressed the public interest in ensuring accountability.
The 2021 audited report details various instances of financial mismanagement within the Ministry.
Among the findings, over N54 billion allocated for stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and trainees between August and December 2021 was reportedly unaccounted for.
According to the report, the funds were not paid directly to beneficiaries, prompting concerns about possible diversion.
Additionally, over N2.6 billion meant for the “home-grown school feeding program during Covid-19” was reportedly unaccounted for, with the program allegedly never executed.
Payments amounting to N78 million for a Covid-19 response survey, N39.5 million for “personal donations,” and N400 million for stipends to independent monitors were also flagged as missing or mismanaged.
SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms. Oluwakemi Agunbiade, highlighted the broader implications of the allegations, stating, “Granting the reliefs sought would go a long way in addressing corruption in ministries, departments, and agencies [MDAs] and the country’s budget deficit and debt problems.”
The report also raises concerns about other funds, including N287 million paid to contractors without proper documentation or justification and alleged discrepancies involving N729 billion, which is under judicial review.
SERAP argued that these violations represent systemic corruption, citing provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and international conventions requiring the government to act against corrupt practices.
The organization called for measures to uphold accountability, restitution, and justice for Nigerians affected by the misuse of public funds.
Henzodaily reports that no hearing date has been set for the suit.