Rights group asks Federal High Court in Abuja to compel public disclosure of security vote spending since May 2023 amid rising insecurity
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, over their alleged failure to account for billions of naira allocated as security votes.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks an order compelling the governors and the FCT minister to publicly disclose how security vote funds have been spent since May 29, 2023. SERAP is also asking the court to mandate detailed breakdowns of expenditures, including projects executed, payments made, and the outcomes achieved with the funds.
According to SERAP, security votes—often classified as confidential expenditures—have remained largely opaque despite their massive allocations in federal and state budgets. The organisation argues that this secrecy undermines transparency, fuels corruption, and violates Nigerians’ constitutional right to know how public resources are utilized.
SERAP further contends that the persistent state of insecurity across many parts of the country raises serious questions about the effectiveness and use of these funds. It insists that public officials have a legal and moral obligation to account for security-related spending, especially when citizens continue to face violent attacks, kidnappings, and other security threats.
The rights group maintains that accountability in the management of security votes would help strengthen public trust, improve governance, and ensure that funds meant to protect lives and property are not diverted for personal or political purposes.
As of the time of filing, neither the state governors nor the FCT minister had publicly responded to the lawsuit. The case adds to ongoing national debates over the legality, transparency, and oversight of security votes in Nigeria’s democratic system.
