SERAP Drags FG to ECOWAS Court Over N78.8bn Cash Transfer

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken the Federal Government to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over alleged diversion, irregular spending and failure to account for N78.8 billion meant for cash-transfer and social-protection programmes.

In an announcement issued on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP mentioned the problems contain the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).

The claims stem from the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, launched on August 7, 2026, which covers intervals from January 2023 to December 31, 2024.

The go well with, numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26 and filed final week by legal professionals Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, seeks a declaration that the federal government’s failure to account for the funds breaches Nigeria’s worldwide human rights obligations.

SERAP additionally desires the courtroom to compel the federal government to totally account for the questioned quantities, examine the reported irregularities, recuperate any improperly spent or diverted cash the place confirmed, and enhance monetary oversight of social-protection schemes.

The group argued that the alleged lapses threat undermining the rights of susceptible Nigerians to social safety and an satisfactory lifestyle, together with entry to meals, clothes and housing.

The funds had been meant to assist greater than 3.2 million households throughout 35 states.

According to SERAP, the Auditor-General raised considerations about about N33.751 billion reportedly transferred to these households in 2023, citing inadequate information to confirm funds or reconcile beneficiary lists.

The report additional flagged N36.744 billion in funds made with out prepayment audits, N4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures, N350.182 million linked to enrolment, N89.511 million for retailer purchases and N17.422 million in diesel advances.

SERAP mentioned it introduced the case beneath Article 9(4) of the ECOWAS Court Protocol to safeguard affected households and promote accountability for public cash allotted for social safety.

It maintained that merely making a cash-transfer programme is just not sufficient if the state fails to maintain correct techniques for figuring out beneficiaries, sustaining information, reconciling funds, monitoring spending, investigating issues and correcting losses.

The organisation famous that it had earlier written to President Bola Tinubu on September 5, 2026, urging motion on the Auditor-General’s findings, together with publication of information and restoration of any misused funds.

It mentioned the deadline it gave elapsed with out passable response.SERAP is asking the courtroom to order an unbiased, immediate and efficient investigation into the irregularities; restoration of any public funds discovered to have been improperly spent, diverted or misplaced; and applicable authorized or administrative steps in opposition to these accountable, in step with due course of.

It additionally seeks stronger accountability, verification, auditing and oversight mechanisms to cease comparable issues and guarantee eligible households obtain the meant assist, plus an order restraining the federal government from operating or disbursing such funds with out satisfactory safeguards.No date has but been mounted for the listening to.

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