The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas seven days to investigate the alleged diversion of over ₦6.3 billion in constituency project funds, warning of legal action if they fail to act.
Demand for Investigation and Prosecution
In a letter dated June 27, 2026, signed by SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged the National Assembly leadership to refer the allegations to anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). SERAP demanded that anyone found culpable be prosecuted, and all diverted or unaccounted public funds be recovered and returned to the national treasury.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated.
Allegations from Auditor-General's Report
The allegations stem from the Auditor-General of the Federation's 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025. The report identified numerous cases of financial mismanagement involving several federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General's report documented payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded without due process, payments for projects not executed, undocumented expenditures, contract inflation, procurement violations, and failure to properly account for public funds. The report recommended in each case that the funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
Specific Cases of Misappropriation
SERAP highlighted that EHORECON paid over ₦22.9 million from constituency project funds into the personal bank accounts of some staff members, with no evidence of utilization or explanation for the payments. The agency also awarded consultancy contracts worth over ₦12 million for the design and supervision of modern abattoir projects in Kebbi, Jigawa, and Abuja, but the deliverables could not be verified. The Auditor-General's report linked more than ₦1.8 billion in questionable constituency project transactions to EHORECON.
The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, allegedly paid over ₦279.7 million to three contractors for youth and women empowerment programmes in Niger and Plateau states without proper documentation. Another ₦279.7 million was reportedly paid as mobilisation fees without supporting records, while over ₦629.4 million allegedly went to unqualified contractors without evidence of due process or public advertisement.
Irregularities at Federal Polytechnic Ukana and Other Agencies
For the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, the report identified over ₦407 million paid as mobilisation without supporting documents, more than ₦399 million paid to unqualified contractors, contracts allegedly inflated by over ₦192 million, more than ₦279 million spent on projects not fully executed, ₦50 million reportedly paid for an uncompleted borehole project, and over ₦83 million disbursed without required approvals.
SERAP also stated that NAPTIP allegedly awarded contracts worth over ₦21.8 million irregularly, paid more than ₦176.8 million for consultancy and logistics services without supporting documents, and released over ₦94 million for projects said not to have been executed. NILDS failed to submit audited financial statements covering 2012 to 2022, did not remit more than ₦15 million in stamp duties, and spent ₦1.6 million without approval from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Call for Transparency and Accountability
SERAP called on Akpabio and Abbas to make public the identities of contractors and companies that allegedly received constituency project funds without executing the approved projects, as well as the shareholders and beneficial owners of the companies involved. The organization argued that corruption linked to constituency projects deprives Nigerians of essential infrastructure and public services, particularly vulnerable communities that depend on government-funded projects.
If the allegations are proven, they could amount to violations of the 1999 Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, and the Public Procurement Act 2007, all of which require transparency, accountability, and due process in the management of public resources. SERAP maintained that the National Assembly should demonstrate accountability by ensuring proper oversight of constituency project funds.
