The Federal Government is facing legal action at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice over alleged lapses in the handling of ₦78.8 billion meant for financial assistance and welfare schemes for impoverished Nigerians.
The lawsuit was instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which is requesting judicial intervention to ensure that the government explains how the money was spent, examines the reported financial discrepancies and retrieves any amount confirmed to have been wrongly utilised or diverted.
The matter concerns allocations connected to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office.
The concerns were raised in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, made public on August 7, 2026. The document examined financial operations undertaken between January 2023 and December 31, 2024.
SERAP announced the court action on Sunday through a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
According to the organisation, the decision to seek judicial redress followed unsuccessful attempts to get the authorities to clarify the audit observations and address questions surrounding the expenditure.
The case, bearing suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26, was submitted last week by the organisation’s solicitors, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi.
SERAP is asking the regional court to determine whether the alleged failure to provide a proper account of the funds and investigate the financial concerns amounts to a breach of Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights conventions.
The organisation explained that the allocations were designed to provide direct financial support to millions of low-income families through government-backed relief programmes.
It warned that poor handling of resources intended for social assistance could leave vulnerable citizens struggling to afford necessities such as meals, clothing and shelter.
SERAP stated that the initiative was expected to reach more than 3.2 million households spread across 35 states. However, it said the issues identified in the audit raised concerns about the administration of the programme.
The organisation further observed that government-funded welfare interventions are established to ease the burden of economic hardship on disadvantaged communities. It maintained that transparent transactions, dependable beneficiary records and adequate supervision are necessary to ensure that public funds serve their intended purpose.
In its application, SERAP argued that failure to scrutinise the reported financial breaches, disclose how the money was used and reclaim any amount found to have been improperly spent could jeopardise the rights and welfare of affected families.
The group said its legal challenge was intended to protect the interests of beneficiaries while strengthening accountability in the management of taxpayers’ money.
The Auditor-General’s report reportedly questioned about ₦33.751 billion said to have been paid to more than 3.2 million households across 35 states in 2023.
SERAP said the audit findings indicated that the agencies involved did not present adequate supporting documents to confirm the transactions or reconcile the beneficiaries’ information.
Consequently, the organisation wants the relevant authorities to release detailed disbursement records, lists of recipients, verification documents and other materials showing how the payments were processed.
It is also seeking a thorough examination of the concerns identified by the Auditor-General, alongside appropriate measures against anyone found responsible for any established wrongdoing.
However, the claims have not yet been conclusively established in court. The institution of the lawsuit does not, in itself, prove that the funds were diverted or that any government official engaged in illegal activity.
The court has not announced a date for the commencement of proceedings.
