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SERAP sues Nigerian government at ECOWAS Court over N78.8bn cash transfer irregularities
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Federal Government at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. The suit, marked ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, concerns alleged financial irregularities, diversion, and failure to account for over N78.8 billion allocated to cash-transfer and social-protection programmes.
The allegations stem from the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, which covered transactions between January 2023 and December 31, 2024. The report identified several questionable expenditures involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
Specific audit findings include: • N33.751 billion transferred to households in 2023 that could not be verified due to inadequate records. • N36.744 billion in payments made without prepayment audits. • N4.616 billion in expenditures unsupported by adequate documentation.
SERAP is seeking a court declaration that the government's failure to account for these funds violates international human rights obligations and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The organization is also requesting an investigation, the recovery of misappropriated funds, and a perpetual injunction to prevent future disbursements without adequate oversight and beneficiary verification. The funds were intended to support more than 3.2 million households across 35 states.
Entities
ECOWAS Community Court of Justice · Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction · National Cash Transfer Office · National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office · Nigeria · Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The lawsuit concerns N78.8 billion in public funds allocated to cash-transfer and social-protection programmes. www.parrotnewspaper.com · glamtush.com · 247ureports.com · nationalaccordnewspaper.com · newscentraltv.com · +6 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately N33.751 billion transferred to households in 2023 could not be verified due to missing records. chronicle.ng · www.naijanews.com · thewhistler.ng
- [● 4 SOURCES] The cash-transfer programme was intended to benefit over 3.2 million households across 35 states. glamtush.com · newscentraltv.com · www.naijanews.com · thewhistler.ng
- [● 11 SOURCES] SERAP filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Federal Government at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. www.parrotnewspaper.com · glamtush.com · 247ureports.com · nationalaccordnewspaper.com · newscentraltv.com · +6 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] SERAP is seeking a declaration that the failure to account for the funds violates Nigeria's international human rights obligations. glamtush.com · 247ureports.com · nationalaccordnewspaper.com · newscentraltv.com · realnewsmagazine.net · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] N36.744 billion in payments were made without prepayment audits. chronicle.ng · www.naijanews.com · thewhistler.ng
- [● 2 SOURCES] N4.616 billion in expenditure was unsupported by adequate documentation. chronicle.ng · thewhistler.ng
- [● 7 SOURCES] The Auditor-General's 2024 Annual Report was published on August 7, 2026. glamtush.com · 247ureports.com · nationalaccordnewspaper.com · newscentraltv.com · realnewsmagazine.net · +2 more