SERAP Takes Governors, FCT Minister Wike to Court Over Security Vote Spending

LAGOS — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against all 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, over what the organisation describes as a failure to publicly account for billions of naira spent on “security votes” since May 29, 2023. In a suit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is urging the court to order the governors and the FCT minister to disclose how security vote funds — reportedly amounting to more than ₦400 billion annually — have been allocated and spent. According to the suit, budget documents indicate that at least 10 governors earmarked about ₦140 billion for security votes in the 2026 fiscal year, yet Nigerians have limited information on how these resources have been used to protect lives and property amid persistent insecurity. Lawyers for SERAP say the organisation wants detailed reports on spending, implementation status, project completion, and plans to strengthen security infrastructure in each state and the FCT. They argue that Nigerians have a right to know how public funds meant for security are being utilised. In accompanying court documents, SERAP said escalating insecurity — highlighted by incidents such as the Benue massacre and other violent events across the states — has inflicted severe hardship on vulnerable communities, driving up poverty and undermining human rights. The suit further contends that secretive spending of security votes contradicts the spirit of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which the group says was never intended to allow opaque use of public funds. Counsel for SERAP, including Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke, submitted that failure to disclose the use of security votes undermines transparency and accountability in governance. As of this report, no hearing date has been set for the case.