Deborah Akinyosoye
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) at the Federal High Court in Abuja over failure to account for the missing or diverted N128 billion from the Ministry of Power and NBET.
The allegations are documented in the latest yearly report published by the Auditor-General on September 9, 2025.
According to the body, corruption contributes significantly to the frequent grid collapses, as Nigerians last week witnessed the first grid collapse of 2026, plunging the country into darkness.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026 filed at the weekend, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Adelabu and NBET to account for the missing or diverted N128 billion from the Ministry of Power and NBET.
SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Adelabu and NBET to disclose details of how the missing or diverted N128 billion was spent, including the dates of disbursement and the purported beneficiaries or contractors who received the money, as well as their registered business names and addresses.
The organisation is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Adelabu and NBET to disclose the full names, official designations, and offices of all public officers who authorised, approved, or otherwise participated in the release of the missing or diverted funds.
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the power sector. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.
The group is also arguing that granting the reliefs sought would contribute to tackling corruption in the power sector and addressing the persistent breakdown of transmission lines in the country, as well as improving Nigerians’ access to regular and uninterrupted electricity supply.
SERAP is arguing that granting the reliefs sought will also strike a blow against the impunity of those responsible for the missing or diverted public money meant to provide Nigerians with access to regular and uninterrupted electricity supply.
According to the organisation, ordinary Nigerians continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector, staying in darkness, but are still made to pay crazy electricity bills.
In the lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, the body maintained that the grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggested a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international anticorruption standards.