•As SERAP sues NNPCL over missing N22.3b, others

HUMAN and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called for visa revocation, asset forfeiture, and global sanctions against several Nigerian individuals accused of involvement in the diversion of security and arms procurement funds.

HEDA made the call in a petition, signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, addressed to the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation.

HEDA, in the petition, urged the U.S. Government to take action under Section 7031(c) of the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programmes Appropriations Act, as well as the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

According to Suraju, the alleged diversion of billions of dollars earmarked for Nigeria’s national security and arms procurement has directly contributed to widespread insecurity, terrorism, and human rights violations across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

HEDA referenced the “Dasuki-gate” arms procurement scandal and other military procurement fraud cases, arguing that the failure to equip Nigerian troops with funds approved for arms acquisition enabled the expansion of insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Suraju noted that domestic accountability efforts had been weakened by judicial technicalities, including the quashing or suspension of corruption trials on procedural and jurisdictional grounds.

While acknowledging that some of the cases resulted in acquittals, halted trials, or dropped charges, HEDA argued that such outcomes were largely based on procedural issues rather than substantive determinations on the allegations of corruption.

In its petition, the organisation called on the U.S. Government to revoke visas of the listed individuals and their immediate family members, initiate asset forfeiture proceedings through international cooperation, and impose heightened financial scrutiny to prevent further laundering of diverted Nigerian security funds.

MEANWHILE, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the failure to account for the alleged missing or diverted N22.3 billion, USD$49.7 million, £14.3 million and €5.2 million oil money.

The suit followed the damning allegations documented in the 2022 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was published on September 9, 2025.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2026 filed at the weekend, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for the alleged missing or diverted N22.3 billion, USD$49.7 million, £14.3 million, and €5.2 million oil money.

The organisation is asking the court to direct and compel the NNPCL to disclose the specific financial transactions carried out in respect of the alleged missing or diverted N22.3 billion, USD$49.7 million, £14.3 million and €5.2 million oil money, including details of disbursement, the contractors, and other individuals who collected the money.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.