The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) at the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of missing or misappropriated funds totaling N128 billion.
The claim, detailed in the Auditor-General’s latest annual report released on September 9, 2025, highlights significant financial irregularities in the Ministry of Power and NBET. SERAP argues that such corruption is a key factor behind the frequent electricity grid collapses, including the first nationwide grid failure of 2026, which left millions of Nigerians in darkness last week.
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026, SERAP is requesting a court order of mandamus to compel the Power Minister and NBET to provide a full account of the missing or diverted funds. The organisation is seeking details on how the funds were spent, including disbursement dates, beneficiaries, contractors involved, and their registered business information.
SERAP also wants disclosure of the full names, official positions, and offices of all public officers who authorised, approved, or participated in the release of the allegedly misappropriated money.
According to the group, ordinary Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of corruption in the power sector, paying high electricity bills despite persistent outages. The organisation maintains that enforcing accountability in this matter is in the public interest and will help address the ongoing breakdown of transmission lines, ultimately improving access to reliable electricity across the country.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of SERAP by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, contends that the allegations amount to a serious violation of public trust, the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), and international anti-corruption standards.
SERAP insists that the court’s intervention will strike a blow against impunity, ensure justice, and reinforce accountability in the nation’s electricity sector.
