SERAP power fund lawsuit challenges alleged N128bn unaccounted funds in power sector as grid failures worsen

TThe Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a SERAP power fund lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged failure to account for N128 billion in public funds.

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The suit, marked FHC ABJ CS 143 2026 and filed last Friday, is anchored on findings contained in the latest annual report of the Auditor General of the Federation published on September 9 2025.

According to court filings, SERAP argued that the alleged financial irregularities have worsened Nigeria’s electricity crisis and contributed to repeated national grid collapses, including the first collapse recorded in 2026 which plunged several parts of the country into darkness last week.

In the action, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling Adelabu and NBET to provide a full account of the missing or diverted N128 billion allegedly linked to the Ministry of Power and NBET.

The organisation is also asking the court to order the disclosure of detailed information on how the funds were spent, including dates of disbursement, identities of beneficiaries or contractors and their registered business addresses.

SERAP further wants the court to compel the disclosure of the names and official positions of all public officers who authorised or approved the release of the disputed funds.

The group maintained that Nigerians have a strong public interest in knowing how funds allocated to improve electricity supply were allegedly mismanaged.

In its filings, SERAP said corruption in the power sector continues to impose severe hardship on citizens, who remain trapped in darkness while paying what it described as outrageous electricity bills.

It argued that granting the reliefs sought would help curb impunity, strengthen accountability and address the persistent failure of transmission infrastructure across the country.

The civil society organisation relied heavily on the Auditor General’s 2022 audited report, which raised concerns over billions of naira allegedly unaccounted for by the Ministry of Power.

The report flagged over N4.4 billion transferred to project accounts without evidence of use, more than N95 billion paid to contractors without proof of project execution and several other expenditures described as irregular or unauthorised.

SERAP also cited alleged infractions at NBET, including irregular contract awards, undocumented payments running into billions of naira, extra budgetary spending without approvals and payments for services with no evidence of work done.

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The SERAP power fund lawsuit was filed by the organisation’s lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo. No hearing date has been fixed by the court.