The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigerian State governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
SERAP sued the 36 governors and Wike “over their failure to account for N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT, and to publish copies of the loan agreements, including details and locations of projects executed with the loans”.
The suit followed the disclosure last month by Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, that the immediate-past administration of Nasir el-Rufa’i left $587 million, N85 billion debt and 115 contractual liabilities, making it impossible for the State to pay salaries.
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/592/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the governors and Wike to account for N5.9trn and $4.6bn loans obtained by their States and the FCT and to publish copies of the loan agreements, location of projects executed with the loans”.
SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel the governors and Mr Wike to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the spending of all the loans obtained to date by their States and the FCT”.
In the suit, SERAP argues: “It is in the public interest to grant the reliefs sought. Nigerians have the right to see and scrutinise the loan agreements and know the details of how the domestic and external loans obtained by the Governors and FCT Minister are spent”.
According to SERAP, “opacity in the spending of the loans obtained by the governors and Wike would continue to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens”.
SERAP says, “Many States and the FCT are reportedly spending public funds which may include the loans obtained by them to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bullet-proof cars, and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians”.
It lamented that many states and the FCT reportedly owe civil servants’ salaries and pensions.
“Several states are borrowing to pay salaries. Millions of Nigerians resident in the States and FCT continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services such as quality education and healthcare” it stated.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
