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SERAP Sues Govs, FCT Minister Over Missing N40 Trillion LGA Allocations
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Nigeria’s governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike over alleged missing N40 trillion federal allocations for the third tier of government.
The not-for-profit claimed that its action followed the damning revelations by former president Muhammadu Buhari who in December 2022 stated that, “If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it.”
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/231/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the SERAP prayed the court to “direct and compel the governors to publish details of LGA allocations and actual disbursement of the allocations to local governments in their respective states from 1999 to date.”
The SERAP also asked the court to “compel and direct Mr Wike to publish details of federal allocations meant for the Area Councils in the FCT and the actual disbursement of the allocations to the Area Councils in the FCT from 1999 to date.”
The SERAP’s argument in the suit was that, “The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights impose transparency obligations on the governors and Mr Wike to publish the details of LGA allocations and actual disbursement in their states and the FCT.”
Consequently, the SERAP was arguing that, “State governors and Mr Wike cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to their states and the FCT. The legal obligations to publish the information sought are also imposed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
According to the SERAP, “It is in the public interest and the interest of justice to grant this application. Nigerians are entitled to their constitutionally and internationally recognized human right to information.”
The SERAP also argued that, “Transparency in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions, and strengthen the rule of law.”
The not-for-profit maintained that, “States and the FCT should be guided by transparency and accountability principles and proactively publish information pertaining to their actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments.”
The suit was filed on behalf of the SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo.
It read in part, “Opacity in the amounts of federal allocations actually disbursed to local governments in the states and FCT has continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.
“The constitutional principle of democracy provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know details of spending of public funds. Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s international obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.
“Implicit in the freedom of expression is the public’s right to know what governments are doing on their behalf, without which truth would languish and people’s participation in government would remain fragmented.
“Transparency would ensure that the allocations are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public trust that the money would be used to benefit Nigerians resident in these local government areas.
“Many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of federal allocations meant for local governments have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services in several states.
“Granting the reliefs sought would ensure transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations in the states and FCT would also improve the enjoyment by Nigerians of their right to natural wealth and resources.
“The governors and Mr Wike have a legal responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in the states and FCT and to ensure that the allocations are dully and fully disbursed to the local governments.
“Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“Combating the corruption epidemic in the spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in the states and FCT would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods, and enhance the ability of the local governments to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
“According to our information, the 36 states in Nigeria and the federal capital territory, Abuja, have collected over N40 trillion federal allocations meant for the 774 local governments areas in the country and FCT.
“The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed to states N225.21 billion federal allocations meant for local governments in November 2023 alone. States also collected N258,810,449,711.47 federal allocations meant for local government areas in December 2023.
“However, there is opacity in the actual disbursement of federal allocations to the local government areas in the states and FCT. States and the FCT have over the years failed and/or refused to disclose the portion of federal allocations that are disbursed to local governments.
“Former president Muhammadu Buhari recently alleged that state governors routinely pocket or divert federal allocations meant for local governments areas in their states.
“According to Buhari, ‘If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.’
“Section 162(6) of Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides that each state shall maintain a ‘State Joint Local Government Account’ into which all allocations to local government councils from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State shall be paid.
“Section 162(5) makes it mandatory that amounts standing to the credit of the councils will be allocated to the States for the benefit of their local government councils.
“Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has extended the deadline for the submission of memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation to Friday, August 21, 2026.
The extension, announced on Thursday, is aimed at giving Nigerians, institutions and other stakeholders more time to prepare and submit substantive contributions to the proposed reform of the country’s policing architecture.
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Chairman of the Working Group and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the additional time was necessary to ensure broad consultation and enable stakeholders to make well-considered and technically sound contributions.
“The Presidential Working Group is committed to ensuring that the process of developing the National Policing Bill benefits from broad consultation and the informed perspectives of Nigerians and relevant stakeholders.
“The proposed legislation is intended to provide the operational, administrative, institutional and funding framework necessary for an effective policing architecture that responds to Nigeria’s evolving security needs while providing appropriate safeguards for accountability, professionalism and the protection of citizens’ rights,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Working Group had initially set August 13 as the deadline for public submissions but has now shifted it to 5:00 p.m. WAT on August 21.
Gbajabiamila urged legal practitioners, civil society organisations, security sector professionals, state governments, professional bodies, academics, experts and other interested members of the public to take advantage of the extension.
“All submissions must be made on or before 5:00 p.m. WAT on Friday, August 21, 2026, exclusively through the official National Policing Bill portal, nationalpolicingbill.com,” he stated.
According to the Working Group, the proposed legislation will address critical areas including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
Gbajabiamila said these issues make extensive stakeholder engagement essential to producing a policing framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the security needs of communities across the federation.
“The Working Group recognises that developing an effective policing framework requires careful consideration of critical issues, including sustainable funding, command and control structures, recruitment and training standards, operational jurisdiction, inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference or abuse.
“These considerations underscore the importance of robust stakeholder engagement in developing a framework that is effective, accountable, sustainable and responsive to the peculiar security needs of communities across the Federation,” he said.
The Working Group, inaugurated by President Tinubu to develop the legal framework for the implementation of state police, is expected to present a final, implementation-ready draft of the National Policing Bill for onward legislative processing.
The proposed bill is being developed alongside the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police, with the legislation expected to provide the detailed operational framework for federal and state policing.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reshuffled his cabinet, redeploying the suspended Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Omorodion Ikponmwosa, to the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
The minor cabinet shake-up also saw two newly sworn-in commissioners assigned portfolios, while two other serving commissioners were redeployed.
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Ikponmwosa was suspended on July 19, 2026, alongside the State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) Project, Mrs. Ikpikhumi Betsy Aghaku, over what the state government described as an “official infraction.”
The government did not provide further details on the nature of the alleged infraction during his suspension.
The latest changes were contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, who said the exercise was aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing efficiency and improving service delivery across the state.
Under the new arrangement, Mr. Iriabekhai Kayode Jeffery, one of the newly sworn-in commissioners, was deployed to the Ministry of Mining, while Mr. Martin Anayochukwu Oli was assigned to the newly created Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations.
The Commissioner for Communications, Mr. Ohimai Ehijimetor, was redeployed to the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Ikponmwosa, who previously headed Livestock Development, was moved to the Ministry of Oil and Gas, while Mr. Andrew Momodu, the former Commissioner for Oil and Gas, was redeployed to the Ministry of Communications.
The state government said the changes were made to better align responsibilities with the “respective skills, experience and competencies” of members of the State Executive Council.
Explaining the creation of the Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations, the government said it was established to “promote inter-ethnic and inter-community harmony, strengthen peaceful coexistence, and harness the rich and ever-evolving diversity of Edo citizens as an asset for the development and unity of the state.”
All the deployments and redeployments take immediate effect, with the affected commissioners directed to ensure seamless handover and assumption of duties.
Governor Okpebholo also urged members of the State Executive Council to bring “renewed vigour, professionalism and commitment” to their respective assignments.
According to the government, the governor expects the cabinet members to support his administration’s determination to deliver “efficient, responsive and people-centred governance” to the people of Edo State.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, has intercepted and seized 6,035 wraps of cannabis sativa with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2,087,603,186.76 across different locations in Ogun State.
The Area Comptroller of the command, Olukayode Afeni, disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Area Command.
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Afeni said the handover was carried out in line with standard operating procedures and the legal framework for further investigation.
He raised concern over the circulation of potent cannabis strains, particularly Ghana Loud and Colorado, warning that their smuggling could pose serious risks to young people and communities.
According to Afeni, Ghana Loud has been linked to acute psychosis, severe cardiovascular distress, rapid addiction and long-term mental health challenges.
“The high profit margin of Ghana Loud is also linked to violent criminal networks, human trafficking, and illegal proliferation of arms across the borders,” he said.
The comptroller further warned that the smuggling of cannabis and other dangerous variants to young demographics could destabilise schools and local communities.
Afeni disclosed that from January to date, the Ogun 1 Area Command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw cannabis sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command.
He described the fight against drug smuggling as a collective responsibility and reaffirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and protecting the future of young Nigerians.
Afeni also warned drug traffickers to desist from the illicit trade, stressing that the command would continue to intercept illegal consignments and bring those involved to justice.
Speaking on the development, the NDLEA commander, represented by Adewale Fagbohun, a Director in Narcotics, commended the Customs Service for its efforts.
He said the seizure demonstrated the diligence and resilience of Customs personnel in securing the nation’s borders and protecting society.
The NDLEA also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Customs Service and other relevant agencies to disrupt the activities of drug smugglers.
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