The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken a major legal step by dragging the 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The lawsuit centers on the management of approximately ₦14 trillion saved from the removal of the petrol subsidy since May 2023. SERAP is demanding a transparent breakdown of how these funds, which were distributed through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), have been utilized.
In the suit, marked FHC/L/MSC/1424/2025, the advocacy group is asking the court to compel the governors and the minister to go public with specific details of the projects funded by these increased allocations. Beyond just listing projects, the group wants to see evidence of completion and the actual impact on the citizens. The legal team representing SERAP argued that the Nigerian people have a fundamental right to know how their wealth is being managed, especially during a period of such economic hardship.
The core of the argument is that the removal of the fuel subsidy was supposed to provide a financial cushion for the poor and vulnerable. However, SERAP contends that while trillions of naira have flowed into state coffers—with 2024 seeing a nearly 80 percent rise in distributed revenue—the average Nigerian has yet to see any real improvement in healthcare, education, or basic infrastructure. The group warned that keeping the spending of these funds shrouded in mystery only fuels public distrust and worsens the national poverty crisis.
Attorneys Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Valentina Adegoke, who filed the case, pointed out the disturbing contrast between the rising state revenues and the lifestyle of political elites. The lawsuit highlights allegations that while many states struggle with pension and salary arrears, public funds are reportedly being diverted to finance luxury travels and the purchase of high-end, bulletproof vehicles for officials. The lawyers noted that this “lavish lifestyle” of politicians at the expense of the suffering masses is not only unfair but legally questionable.
SERAP also leaned on a significant Supreme Court ruling which clarified that the Freedom of Information Act applies to state governments, effectively stripping away the excuse that governors are not bound to disclose their financial records. The organization maintains that if the “corruption epidemic” in state spending is not addressed, the increased allocations will continue to disappear into private pockets rather than serving the common good. While the public awaits a hearing date, the case has already sparked a fresh conversation about accountability in the post-subsidy era.
