SERAP Drags Tinubu Government to ECOWAS Court Over Alleged ₦78.8bn Cash Transfer Irregularities

SERAP Drags Tinubu Government to ECOWAS Court Over Alleged ₦78.8bn Cash Transfer Irregularities

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a public-interest lawsuit against the Federal Government of Nigeria before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja.

The legal challenge stems from alleged non-accountability, financial irregularities, and diversion involving ₦78.8 billion allocated to public social protection and cash-transfer initiatives.

Key Background & Findings

 Origin of Suit: The lawsuit (suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26) follows audit revelations published in the 2024 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

 Implicated Agencies: The audit flagged questioned transactions involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).

 Scope of Impact: The Auditor-General’s report raised serious concerns over payments totaling ₦33.75 billion intended for over 3.2 million vulnerable households across 35 states, citing an absence of verifiable records, missing reconciliation documents, and unverified beneficiary entries.

 Legal Representation: The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its legal counsel, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi.

Core Legal Arguments Advanced by SERAP

1. Violation of Fundamental Human Rights: SERAP argues that failing to transparently administer social assistance programs violates Nigeria’s international obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It directly compromises vulnerable citizens’ rights to social security, an adequate standard of living, food, and housing.

2. Exclusion of Vulnerable Households: Poor oversight and mismanagement create systemic flaws that exclude eligible citizens living in extreme poverty from receiving financial aid.

3. Duty of Accountability: SERAP insists that the government has a binding legal duty to investigate alleged diversions, recover improperly spent funds, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Reliefs Sought From the ECOWAS Court

SERAP is asking the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice to grant the following orders:

 A Judicial Declaration: Declaring that the government’s failure to investigate and account for the ₦78.8 billion social welfare funds breaches its international human rights commitments.

 Full Financial Reconciliation: Directing the Federal Government, NCTO, and NASSCO to produce a comprehensive, verifiable account of all disbursement records and beneficiary lists.

 Recovery & Prosecution: Ordering an independent and prompt investigation to recover all missing or diverted public funds and prosecute any responsible officials.

 Restraining Order: Restraining the administration from disbursing further social safety net or cash-transfer funds without establishing transparent financial oversight, verification mechanisms, and auditing safeguards.