The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted legal proceedings against Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) over allegations of unaccounted public funds totaling ₦128 billion.
The civil society organization filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, seeking to compel both parties to provide full disclosure on the whereabouts and utilization of the substantial sum.
According to a statement released Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the legal action stems from findings in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 audited report, which was published in September 2025.
The suit, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026, requests a court order of mandamus that would require the minister and NBET to furnish complete details about the expenditure of the funds. SERAP is specifically demanding disclosure of disbursement dates, contractor and beneficiary identities, and the names of authorizing officials.
The organization has drawn attention to the persistent electricity crisis affecting millions of Nigerians, characterized by frequent national grid failures and irregular power supply. SERAP argues these challenges are rooted in systemic corruption within the power sector.
“Nigerians continue to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the power sector,” the group stated, emphasizing that accountability is essential for public interest.
SERAP maintains that addressing these corruption allegations could help resolve transmission infrastructure problems and improve electricity access nationwide. The organization also highlighted the burden on ordinary citizens who endure power outages while still receiving substantial electricity bills.
The legal team representing SERAP—comprising Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo—has anchored the suit on the 1999 Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and international anti-corruption treaties to which Nigeria is signatory.
The organization stressed that public institutions carry a legal duty to uphold transparency and eliminate corrupt practices in governance.
A hearing date has not yet been scheduled for the case.
