By Francis Ajuonuma
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged failure to account for ₦128 billion in public funds that went missing or were diverted.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026 and filed last Friday, follows damning revelations in the latest report of the Auditor-General of the Federation published on September 9, 2025.
SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling Adelabu and NBET to account for funds allegedly missing from the Ministry of Power and NBET, and to disclose full details of how the funds were spent, including the dates of disbursement, the identities of beneficiaries and contractors, and the amounts disbursed.
The organisation is also asking the court to compel the defendants to reveal the names and official positions of all public officers who authorised or approved the release of the funds.
SERAP argued that widespread corruption in the power sector has worsened Nigeria’s electricity crisis, noting that the country recently experienced its first national grid collapse of 2026.
In its filings, SERAP said Nigerians “continue to pay the price for grand corruption in the power sector”, stressing that there is a strong public interest in ensuring accountability for the alleged financial irregularities.
According to SERAP, granting the reliefs sought would help curb corruption, improve transparency, and address persistent failures in electricity transmission and supply.
The group also said Nigerians are forced to endure poor electricity supply while still being subjected to high electricity bills.
The suit, filed by SERAP’s lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, cited multiple audit queries against the Ministry of Power and NBET, including unaccounted payments running into billions of naira, irregular contract awards, unauthorised transfers, and extra-budgetary spending.
SERAP maintained that the alleged actions violate the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption standards, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
