The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s 36 governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, for failing to account for the spending of trillions of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations collected by their states and the FCT since 1999.
In the suit, SERAP asked the court to direct and compel the governors and Wike to publish spending details of the FAAC allocations, including the list and locations of projects executed with the money. The organization also sought an order compelling the governors and Wike to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe any allegations of corruption linked to the allocations.
SERAP argued that opacity in the spending of FAAC allocations has negative impacts on citizens’ fundamental interests and that directing the governors and FCT minister to provide the information sought would serve legitimate public interests. The organization noted that trillions of FAAC allocations received by Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT have allegedly gone down the drain, and that the failure to account for the spending is inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption obligations.
The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, seeks transparency and accountability in the spending of FAAC allocations, allowing Nigerians to retain control over their government and promoting transparency, accountability, and reducing the risks of corruption in the spending of funds.
