Falana Drags Senate to Court For N210tr NNPCL Financial Report Secrecy

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling the Nigerian Senate to release its report on alleged financial discrepancies of about N210 trillion linked to the audited accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The case, filed under the Freedom of Information Act, 2010 and the Federal High Court rules, is asking the court to issue a mandamus order directing the Senate to make the report and related documents available to Falana and the Nigerian public.

Falana’s legal action followed reports that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts uncovered alleged unexplained and unsubstantiated transactions in NNPCL’s financial statements covering 2017 to 2023.

The committee was said to have questioned several entries in the company’s accounts and invited current and former officials, including former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, to provide explanations and supporting documents.

The lawyer had earlier written to the Clerk of the Senate on March 13, 2026, requesting access to the committee’s report and related information in the interest of transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources.

According to Falana, the Senate acknowledged receiving the request on March 16, 2026, but failed to release the documents or provide any legal reason for withholding the information.

He argued that the refusal violates the Freedom of Information Act and denies Nigerians access to information concerning a matter of major public interest.

Falana maintained that public institutions cannot hide information about the management of national resources without relying on lawful exemptions provided by the law. He also cited constitutional provisions guaranteeing citizens’ right to receive information.

In the suit, the senior lawyer argued that the Senate has a statutory duty to provide access to public records and that the court has the authority to compel the legislature to carry out such responsibilities.

He said the continued withholding of the report undermines principles of openness, accountability and good governance, especially given the size of the alleged financial discrepancies.

Falana is asking the court to declare the Senate’s refusal to release the report unlawful and order the upper chamber of the National Assembly to immediately provide the requested information.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.