The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for billions of naira spent as security votes since May 29, 2023.
In the suit, SERAP accused the governors and the FCT minister of refusing to disclose how funds earmarked for safeguarding lives and property have been utilised, despite rising insecurity across the country.
The organisation said the legal action was prompted by reports of mass killings in Benue State and persistent insecurity in several other states and the FCT, even as governments reportedly allocate over ₦400 billion annually to security votes. SERAP noted that at least 10 governors alone budgeted about ₦140 billion for security votes in the 2026 fiscal year.
Filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, the suit seeks an order compelling the defendants to publicly release full details of their security vote spending.
SERAP is asking the court to direct the governors and the FCT minister to disclose how security votes have been spent since May 29, 2023, including detailed reports on allocations, implementation status, completion records, and any plans to improve security infrastructure in their jurisdictions.
According to SERAP, Nigerians have a right to know how public funds—particularly those meant to ensure safety—are managed. The group argued that worsening insecurity is deepening poverty, hunger, and other serious human rights violations, especially among vulnerable populations.
The rights group further contended that secrecy surrounding security votes has encouraged corruption, misappropriation, and abuse of office, stressing that the 1999 Constitution does not support opaque spending of public funds. It added that transparency and accountability are essential to democracy and public trust.
SERAP also cited a Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to states and the FCT, including records on security votes, insisting that governors can no longer claim exemption from disclosure.
The suit, filed by SERAP’s lawyers Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke, argued that compelling public officials to account for security votes would promote honest dialogue on security challenges and government responses.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the case.