SERAP sues Power Minister, NBET over alleged N128billion missing funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged failure to account for ₦128 billion in public funds.

This was disclosed in a statement signed on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who said the suit was filed last Friday.

The legal action, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026, follows revelations contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 audited report, published on September 9, 2025.

SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling Adelabu and NBET to account for the alleged missing or diverted N128bn and to disclose comprehensive details on how the money was spent.

The organisation is asking the court to direct the minister and NBET to publish how the funds were spent, including the dates of disbursement, the names of contractors or beneficiaries and the officials who authorised or participated in the transactions.

SERAP lamented the continued hardship faced by Nigerians amid recurrent national grid collapses and epileptic electricity supply, which it attributed to deep-rooted corruption in the power sector.

“Nigerians continue to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the power sector.

“There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations,” the group said.

According to SERAP, granting the reliefs would not only tackle systemic corruption but also help address the frequent breakdown of transmission lines and improve access to uninterrupted electricity.

“Ordinary Nigerians continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector, staying in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills,” the group said.

The suit, filed by SERAP’s legal team, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, relies on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and international anti-corruption conventions to which Nigeria is a party.

SERAP insists that public institutions have a legal obligation to ensure transparency, accountability, and the eradication of corrupt practices in governance.

No date has yet been fixed for the hearing.