The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for billions of naira spent as security votes since May 29, 2023.
SERAP said the suit was prompted by persistent insecurity across several states and the FCT, despite huge public funds allocated yearly to security votes, including reports of mass killings in Benue State and other violent incidents nationwide.
This was disclosed in a statement announcing the lawsuit, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
In the suit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is among others, asking the court to compel the governors and the FCT minister to publicly disclose details of how security votes collected since May 29, 2023, have been spent.
The organisation is also seeking an order directing them to provide detailed reports on the allocation, utilisation, implementation status and completion of projects funded with security votes, as well as any plans to improve security infrastructure in their states and the FCT.
According to SERAP, over Four hundred Billion Naira is budgeted annually as security votes across the country, while at least ten governors reportedly earmarked about One hundred and forty Billion Naira for the same purpose in the 2026 budget year.
In the suit, SERAP argued that Nigerians have a right to know how public funds meant to protect lives and property are being utilised.
It was stated that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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