SERAP Sues Nigerian Government Over N78.8bn Fund Mismanagement

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the Nigerian government at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, citing an alleged N78.8 billion cash transfer scandal. The allegations stem from the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published on 7 August 2026, which covers findings from January 2023 to 31 December 2024.

SERAP's suit, numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, seeks a declaration that the government's failure to account for the funds allocated for federal cash-transfer and social-protection programmes is unlawful and violates Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. The organization argues that this failure undermines the rights to social security and an adequate standard of living for millions of Nigerians, particularly affecting over 3.2 million households across 35 states.

SERAP is also requesting a perpetual injunction to prevent the government from administering these funds without proper accountability and oversight mechanisms.