SERAP drags Power Minister, NBET over missing N128bn public funds
Agency Report
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power Mr Adebayo Adelabu and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc., (NBET), Abuja over the failure to account for N128 billions of public funds from the ministry and NBET.
The allegations were documented in the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Adelabu and NBET to account for the missing or diverted ₦128 billion from the ministry of power and NBET.”
SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Adelabu and NBET to disclose details of how the missing or diverted ₦128 billion was spent including the dates of disbursement and the purported beneficiaries or contractors, who received the money as well as their registered business names and addresses.”
SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Adelabu and NBET to disclose the full names, official designations, and offices of all public officers who authorized, approved, or otherwise participated in the release of the missing or diverted ₦128 billion in the ministry of power and NBET.
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that “Nigerians continue to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the power sector. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.”
“Granting the reliefs sought would contribute to tackling corruption in the power sector and addressing the persistent breakdown of transmission lines in the country, as well as improving access of Nigerians to regular and uninterrupted interrupted electricity supply.”
SERAP is arguing that, “granting the reliefs sought would also strike a blow against the impunity of those responsible for the missing or diverted public money meant to provide Nigerians with access to regular and uninterrupted electricity supply.”
According to SERAP, “Ordinary Nigerians continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector–staying in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.”
The lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international anti-corruption standards.
“According to the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Power failed to account for over N4.4 billion (N4,404,647,938.53) ‘transferred to Mambilla, Zungeru and Kashimbilla project accounts by the Ministry.’’
“There was ‘no evidence of how the funds were expended.’ The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
