The Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and state governors are accused of allegedly failing to account for the billions of naira spent as security votes since May 29, 2023, in a lawsuit brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
Despite receiving substantial public funding each year for security votes, including reports of widespread mass murders in Benue State and other violent incidents all over the country, SERAP claimed the suit was brought on by persistent insecurity across several states and the FCT.
Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.
The governors and the FCT minister are required by the court to make public information about how security votes collected since May 29, 2023, as requested in the lawsuit FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026.
Read more: Most Nigerians Consider Governments to be Wasteful .
Additionally, the organization is asking for an order mandating the release of detailed reports on the progress of projects funded by security votes as well as any plans to improve security infrastructure in their states and the FCT.
At least 10 governors reportedly allocated about N140 billion for the same purpose in the 2026 budget year, compared to the over N400 billion that is budgeted annually as security votes across the nation, according to SERAP.
According to SERAP, Nigerians have a right to know how public funds used to protect property and lives.
The governors and the FCT minister should be aware of how public funds, including security votes, are spent, according to the organization.
SERAP warned that vulnerable Nigerians were being severely affected by the growing insecurity, worsening poverty, hunger, and human rights violations.
According to the statement, “The escalating insecurity in several states and the FCT is causing a devastating toll on Nigerians’ socially and economically vulnerable,” adding that many governors and the FCT minister had failed to fulfill their constitutional duty to safeguard lives and property.
The rights group argued that democracy demands accountability and transparency while the Nigerian Constitution prohibits secretive spending of public funds.
According to SERAP, the Nigerian Constitution (1999) as amended) never considered the use of public funds as security votes, noting that the citizen’s right to know promotes democracy and promotes democratic governance.
According to the lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its attorneys Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke, secrecy surrounding security votes raises the possibility of money being stolen and used to détour public funds.
Source: Channels TV
Leave a Reply