SERAP Sues Nigeria Over N78.8bn Cash Transfer Mismanagement

The Federal Government of Nigeria has been sued at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice regarding alleged irregularities involving N78.8 billion allocated for cash-transfer and social-protection programmes aimed at vulnerable Nigerians. The suit was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which seeks to compel the government to account for the funds, investigate financial breaches, and recover any improperly spent or diverted money.

This case relates to funds managed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office. The allegations stem from the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published on August 7, 2026, covering financial activities from January 2023 to December 31, 2024.

SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that the organization approached the court after the government failed to adequately respond to audit findings. The suit, marked ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, argues that the government's failure to manage the funds properly violates Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law.