The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court “over his failure to probe allegations that over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply since 1999 may have been stolen, mismanaged or diverted into private pockets”.
Nigerian cities have constantly been plunged into darkness as the electricity grid has collapsed at least 3 times in five months, and 130 times in seven years.
In the suit, filed a few days ago at the Federal High Court Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Buhari to investigate how over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply has been allegedly squandered by governments since 1999”.
The organisation wants “an order of mandamus to compel Buhari to ensure the prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing electricity fund, as appropriate, and to ensure the tracing and full recovery of any missing public funds”.
SERAP is arguing that investigating the allegations of missing N11 trillion electricity funds, prosecuting suspected perpetrators and recovering any missing public funds would end a culture of impunity, adding that it would address the persistent collapse of the electricity grid and improve access to and affordability of electricity in the country.
Joined in the suit as a respondent is the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The suit was filed on behalf of the organization by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms. Adelanke Aremo.
However, a date for the hearing of the suit has not been fixed.
