SERAP drags INEC to court over ₦126bn funds
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding a detailed account of more than ₦126.46bn allegedly mismanaged, diverted or spent irregularly on electoral operations.
The organisation is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel INEC to disclose how the funds were released, spent and disbursed, identify the contractors and beneficiaries, and provide evidence that the goods and services paid for were delivered.
*SERAP
Nkereuwem Effiong
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding a detailed account of more than ₦126.46bn allegedly mismanaged, diverted or spent irregularly on electoral operations.
The organisation is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel INEC to disclose how the funds were released, spent and disbursed, identify the contractors and beneficiaries, and provide evidence that the goods and services paid for were delivered.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2507/2026, was filed last week, according to a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. No hearing date has been announced.
SERAP said the allegations were contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026. The reported irregularities relate mainly to expenditure incurred between January and December 2022, with some extending to December 31, 2023.
The organisation said the funds were appropriated for electoral materials and equipment, including ballot boxes, result sheets, accreditation devices and vehicles, as well as audit and consultancy services.
In the suit filed by its lawyers, Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, SERAP argued that public institutions must account for every naira entrusted to them, particularly funds intended to support credible elections.
It said transparency was especially important ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that unresolved questions about electoral expenditure could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
According to the suit, the Auditor-General flagged more than ₦112.15bn in payments for ballot boxes, electoral devices and other materials allegedly made without competitive bidding or a certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
SERAP said the audit report found no evidence that the items had been procured and raised concerns that the contracts were awarded to companies whose competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations were unknown.
The report reportedly warned that the funds might have been diverted and recommended their recovery.
The suit also cited a payment of more than ₦1.05bn for Toyota Prado TXL 2021-model vehicles, allegedly made without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or the required BPP certificate of no objection. The Auditor-General reportedly raised concerns about possible financial losses and inflated contract costs.
Another alleged irregularity involved more than ₦3.13bn paid to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded. SERAP said the audit report questioned the transactions and recommended that the money be recovered and returned to the treasury.
The organisation further cited more than ₦9.24bn spent on 22 contracts for similar goods and services, alleging that the contracts were split and awarded on the same day to circumvent procurement procedures.
Other transactions highlighted in the suit included ₦129.37m paid to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services without sufficient evidence of the services rendered, and ₦504.49m spent on accreditation devices allegedly procured without due process.
The Auditor-General also reportedly questioned payments of more than ₦235m to contractors for sleeping mats and digital archiving, citing concerns about their eligibility and capacity.
SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence that the goods and services were supplied, account for the whereabouts of the equipment and materials, and identify the contractors, suppliers, consultants and public officials involved in the transactions.
It is also seeking an order directing the commission to preserve the assets covered by the audit findings and prevent their disposal, transfer, destruction or write-off in ways that could frustrate accountability.
The organisation argued that Nigerians were entitled to know whether the payments corresponded with goods and services actually delivered and whether public procurement rules had been deliberately circumvented.
SERAP cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and international human rights instruments in support of its case.
It maintained that transparent management of electoral funds was essential to public accountability and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
