The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the Federal Government of Nigeria. The lawsuit concerns the alleged diversion, irregular expenditure, and failure to account for public funds exceeding N78.8 billion. These funds were reportedly intended for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
According to a statement released by SERAP on Sunday, the allegations are thoroughly documented in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, which was made public on 7th August 2026. The Auditor-General’s findings cover various periods between January 2023 and 31st December 2024.
The suit, identified as ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, was filed last week at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja. In this legal challenge, SERAP is seeking a judicial declaration that "the failure of the Nigerian government to account for over N78.8 billion in public funds allocated for federal cash-transfer and social-protection programmes is unlawful and a violation of Nigeria’s international human rights obligations."
SERAP is also pursuing a declaration that "the government’s failure to ensure the lawful administration of public funds allocated for cash-transfer programmes intended to benefit vulnerable households undermines the enjoyment of the rights protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights."
Represented by its legal team, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, SERAP is additionally requesting "an order of perpetual injunction restraining the government from administering or disbursing cash-transfer and social-protection funds without adequate financial accountability, beneficiary verification, auditing and oversight mechanisms consistent with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations."
In its legal arguments, SERAP contends that "the government has violated, and continues to violate, the rights to social security and an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing and housing, by failing to properly administer social-protection funds and ensure access to benefits intended to meet basic needs."
SERAP further asserts that "the failure to account for substantial public funds allocated for social protection, and to investigate and remedy deficiencies, undermines the socio-economic rights of millions of affected Nigerians." The organisation highlighted that "The funds were intended to benefit over 3.2 million households across 35 states, whose access to financial assistance has been affected by the allegations made by the Auditor-General."