Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, over what it describes as their refusal to account for billions of naira spent as “security votes” since May 29, 2023. The legal action was initiated amid mounting concerns about the country’s persistent insecurity and the opaque nature of public finance management related to security allocations.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026 and filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is urging the court to compel the governors and the FCT minister to disclose how security votes have been allocated and spent since the current administrations took office. According to the rights group, the information should include a detailed breakdown of expenditures, the status of any projects or initiatives financed with security votes, and plans, if any, to improve security infrastructure in the states and the FCT.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the suit was prompted by persistent insecurity in several parts of the country, including mass killings in Benue State and other violent incidents, despite large public funds allocated annually for security votes. More than N400 billion is reportedly budgeted every year across the federation as security votes, with at least 10 governors earmarking about N140 billion for the same purpose in the 2026 budget.
In its court filings, SERAP argues that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know how public funds — especially those intended to protect lives and property — are utilised. The group contends that the Nigerian Constitution, national anti-corruption laws, and international human rights obligations require transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. SERAP also warned that secrecy surrounding security votes increases the risk of embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of public funds, and that prolonged lack of disclosure undermines public trust in governance.
The suit further highlights that sustained insecurity is having a devastating impact on socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians, contributing to extreme poverty, hunger and other grave human rights violations, even as vast sums are allocated for security purposes. SERAP stressed that while certain matters of operational security may be legitimately withheld, there is no constitutional or legal basis for hiding basic information on public spending from the people.
SERAP is seeking a court order compelling the governors and Mr. Wike to publicly disclose detailed accounts on security vote spending and to ensure meaningful oversight and accountability. Lawyers representing the organisation in the case include Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke. No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the lawsuit.
The legal action reflects a broader push by civil society groups in Nigeria for enhanced transparency and accountability in public finance, particularly amid widespread frustrations over insecurity and limited visible improvements despite large budgetary allocations. SERAP’s suit seeks to put judges at the centre of a legal interpretation of how public funds should be disclosed and audited, potentially setting a precedent for fiscal openness at state and federal levels.
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