The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a legal action against all state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over their refusal to properly account for massive sums allocated as security votes since the start of the current administration on May 29, 2023.
The rights advocacy group said the lawsuit was necessitated by the worsening security situation across many parts of the country, including the FCT, despite the huge public funds earmarked annually for security purposes.
SERAP pointed to recurring incidents of violence, such as mass killings in Benue State and other deadly attacks nationwide, as evidence that the funds may not be delivering their intended impact.
In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, disclosed that the suit was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, seeks judicial intervention to compel the governors and the FCT minister to make public a full breakdown of how security votes received since May 29, 2023, have been spent.
According to SERAP, the court is being asked to order the defendants to disclose comprehensive details of security vote expenditures, including how the funds were allocated, the projects or activities they were used for, their implementation status, and whether such projects have been completed.
The organisation also wants clarity on any concrete plans by state governments and the FCT administration to strengthen security infrastructure.
SERAP noted that security votes account for a significant portion of public spending, estimating that more than N400 billion is budgeted annually across the federation for this purpose.
It added that at least 10 governors alone reportedly set aside about N140 billion as security votes in their 2026 budget proposals.
The organisation argued that citizens have a fundamental right to know how funds meant to safeguard lives and property are utilised.
It maintained that secrecy surrounding security votes undermines transparency and accountability, which are core principles of democratic governance.
SERAP further warned that the persistent insecurity plaguing the country has had severe social and economic consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups.
According to the group, violence and instability have deepened poverty, worsened hunger, and increased human rights violations, while public officials entrusted with protecting citizens have failed to meet their constitutional obligations.
In its filing, SERAP rejected the long-standing practice of treating security vote spending as confidential, insisting that the Nigerian Constitution does not support opaque handling of public funds.
The group stressed that openness in governance not only reduces corruption risks but also strengthens public trust in government institutions.
The lawsuit, filed by SERAP’s legal team comprising Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke, also raised concerns that the lack of transparency around security votes creates opportunities for misappropriation and diversion of funds.
SERAP urged the court to affirm that accountability in the use of security votes is essential to effective governance and national security, arguing that Nigerians deserve clear answers on how billions allocated in their name were being spent.
