SERAP sues governors, FCT minister over alleged failure to account for security votes

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) 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 the huge sums allocated annually as security votes. The organisation cited reports of mass killings in Benue State and other violent incidents across the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the suit was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, is 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.

SERAP is also seeking an order directing the defendants to provide comprehensive reports on the allocation, utilisation, implementation status and completion of projects funded with security votes, as well as information on plans to improve security infrastructure in their respective states and the FCT.

According to the organisation, over N400 billion is budgeted annually as security votes nationwide, while at least 10 governors reportedly set aside about N140 billion for the same purpose in the 2026 budget year.

SERAP argued that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know how public funds intended to protect lives and property are being used.

The organisation said secrecy surrounding security votes undermines accountability and democratic governance, warning that escalating insecurity continues to have severe consequences for vulnerable Nigerians, including worsening poverty, hunger and human rights abuses.

It added that many governors and the FCT minister have failed to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property.

SERAP maintained that the Nigerian Constitution does not support opaque spending of public funds, stressing that transparency and accountability are core principles of democracy.

The group further argued that secrecy around security votes increases the risk of embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of public funds.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke.