Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Federal Government before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice sitting in Abuja.

It sued the FG over alleged financial irregularities involving more than N78.8 billion allocated to federal cash-transfer and social-protection programmes.

SERAP, in suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/42/26 filed at the weekend, is challenging the alleged diversion, irregular expenditure and failure to account for public funds involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO).

The organisation’s action is based on findings contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report, published on August 7, 2026, which, according to SERAP, identified financial irregularities covering various periods between January 2023 and December 31, 2024.

SERAP is asking the court to declare that the Federal Government’s alleged failure to account for more than N78.8 billion allocated for cash-transfer and social-protection programmes is unlawful and violates Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

It is also seeking an order directing the government, through the NCTO, NASSCO and other relevant agencies, to provide a comprehensive and verifiable account of the questioned funds, including payment, beneficiary, verification and reconciliation records.

The organisation is further asking the court to order an independent and effective investigation into the alleged irregularities, recovery of any public funds found to have been improperly spent, diverted or lost, and appropriate legal or administrative action against persons found responsible.

According to SERAP, the Auditor-General questioned approximately N33.751 billion reportedly transferred to more than 3.2 million households across 35 states in 2023, following the failure of the relevant authorities to provide adequate records to verify the payments and reconcile beneficiary records.

The report also identified N36.744 billion in payments allegedly made without prepayment audits, N4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures and other questioned payments, including N350.182 million for enrolment, N89.511 million for store purchases and N17.422 million in diesel advances.

SERAP said the alleged irregularities had human rights implications because the funds were intended to support vulnerable households and enable beneficiaries to meet basic needs.

In the suit filed by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Kehinde Oyewumi, the organisation argued that the failure to properly administer and account for funds meant for social protection could undermine the rights to social security and an adequate standard of living, including access to food, clothing and housing.

The organisation is also seeking a declaration that failure to investigate and remedy the alleged financial irregularities, where such failures impair or risk impairing access to intended benefits, violates Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.