Tinubu and AGF Face Legal Action Over Missing Ministry Funds
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu for not directing the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to work with anti-corruption agencies in investigating the alleged misuse of over ₦57 billion by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.
This action is based on a 2021 audit report from the Auditor-General’s Office, which highlighted major financial irregularities.
The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos (suit number FHC/L/MISC/876/2024), includes Fagbemi as one of the respondents. SERAP wants the court to compel President Tinubu to order an investigation into the alleged theft, prosecute those involved, and recover the missing funds if evidence confirms the wrongdoing.
SERAP emphasized that accountability is crucial, stating that investigating and recovering the missing money would deter corruption and end impunity. The group described the alleged mismanagement as “stealing from the poor” and called for justice in the public’s interest.
Key issues flagged in the 2021 audit report include:
- Over ₦54 billion meant for stipends for Batch C1 N-Power volunteers (August–December 2021) was not accounted for, as payments were not made directly to beneficiaries.
- ₦2.6 billion allocated for a school feeding program during Covid-19 was reportedly unspent because the program was not implemented.
- ₦78 million intended for a Covid-19 survey, ₦39.5 million for “personal donations,” and ₦400 million for stipends to independent monitors were flagged as missing or mismanaged.
- ₦287 million was paid to contractors without proper documentation, and there are also discrepancies involving ₦729 billion, currently under judicial review.
SERAP’s legal representatives, Kolawole Oluwadare and Oluwakemi Agunbiade, argue that granting their requests will help combat corruption in government agencies, address Nigeria’s budget and debt challenges, and ensure public funds are used responsibly.
They also pointed to Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations to fight corruption, urging the government to act in the interest of justice and restitution for Nigerians. No hearing date has been announced yet.
