The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against all state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The suit addresses their alleged failure to account for billions of naira spent as security votes since May 29, 2023.

SERAP explained that the action was triggered by ongoing insecurity in many states and the FCT.

This persists despite huge annual public funds allocated as security votes.

The group highlighted reports of mass killings in Benue State and various violent incidents across the country.

The announcement came in a statement signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

He made the statement available to the public on Sunday.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

SERAP is seeking a court order to compel the governors and the FCT minister to publicly disclose details of security vote spending since May 29, 2023.

The organisation also wants an order for detailed reports on the allocation, utilisation, implementation status, and completion of projects funded by security votes.

This includes any plans to improve security infrastructure in the states and the FCT.

SERAP noted that over N400 billion is budgeted annually as security votes nationwide.

At least 10 governors reportedly earmarked about N140 billion for the same purpose in the 2026 budget year.

The group argued that Nigerians have the right to know how public funds meant to protect lives and property are utilised.

“Nigerians ought to know in what manner public funds, including security votes meant to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians, are spent by the governors and the FCT minister,” the organisation said.

SERAP warned that escalating insecurity is taking a heavy toll on vulnerable Nigerians.

It worsens poverty, hunger, and human rights abuses.

“The escalating insecurity in several states and the FCT is taking a devastating toll on socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians,” it said.

The group added that many governors and the FCT minister had failed to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

SERAP stressed that the Nigerian Constitution does not support secretive spending of public funds.

It emphasised that democracy requires transparency and accountability.

“The framers of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] never contemplated opaque spending of public funds as security votes,” SERAP said.

The group noted that citizens’ right to know promotes openness and strengthens democratic governance.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke.

It stated that secrecy around security votes increases the risk of embezzlement and diversion of public funds.

“There is a significant risk of embezzlement, misappropriation or diversion of public funds collected by the states and FCT as security votes,” the organisation argued.

SERAP further stated that years of secrecy have undermined public oversight and accountability.

This has allowed public officials to evade scrutiny over their handling of security responsibilities.

The group cited a Supreme Court judgment affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to public records across the federation.

This includes records on security votes held by states and the FCT.

“With the landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has made clear that state governors can no longer hide under their unfounded claim that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them,” SERAP stated.

SERAP maintained that while certain operational details could be protected for national security reasons, there is no legal basis for withholding basic information on public spending.

“The failure by state governors and the FCT minister to disclose and account for the spending of security votes is a grave violation of the public trust,” SERAP said.

The group added that treating security votes as personal entitlement was contrary to constitutional and international standards.

It referenced the recent World Bank classification of Nigeria as an economy in fragile and conflict-affected situations.

This links rising insecurity to extreme poverty, food insecurity, and weak state capacity.

“The World Bank recently classified Nigeria as ‘economy in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS)’, which explains why the country continues to face severe and persistent development challenges.

Other 38 countries classified as FCS alongside Nigeria include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, and Sudan.

The World Bank noted that insecurity is contributing to extreme poverty in Nigeria.

According to the Bank, ‘the outlook for poverty in Nigeria is sobering. Millions of people are currently experiencing acute food insecurity. Severe gaps in education and health undermine human development in the country,” the statement partly read.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.