July 06, (THEWILL) — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to immediately investigate allegations that high-ranking officials and politicians indicted in the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019 are obstructing the publication of the report.
In a letter dated July 5, 2025, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged President Tinubu to ensure the immediate release of the report, name and shame those responsible for the alleged embezzlement of over N6 trillion, prosecute them, and recover stolen public funds.
SERAP also demanded compensation for victims of corruption in the Niger Delta.
The group warned that if the report is not released within seven days, it would initiate legal action before the ECOWAS Court of Justice to compel the government to act in the public interest.
“While the audit report may be uncomfortable reading for indicted officials, your government has a constitutional obligation to publish it and act on its findings,” the letter said.
It added, “The report can no longer be left to gather dust. Continued delay undermines public trust—especially among victims of corruption in the Niger Delta, who have waited too long for justice and accountability.”
SERAP described attempts to suppress or delay the report as a deliberate obstruction of justice, enabling perpetrators to evade accountability.
“There is a legitimate public interest in publishing the full forensic audit report. Naming and shaming those who allowed it to be buried is crucial for justice,” the organisation stated.
Citing Article 25 of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), SERAP stressed the obligation of the Nigerian government to penalise conduct that interferes with the progress or outcome of corruption investigations.
“The extraordinary delay is not just contrary to the Nigerian Constitution but also to international anti-corruption and human rights obligations,” the letter said.
SERAP noted that N1.4 billion was approved for the audit, which was intended to examine the commission’s finances and project execution between 2001 and 2019.
The audit, submitted in September 2021, reportedly uncovered the misappropriation of over N6 trillion and more than 13,000 abandoned projects.
The group alleged that some powerful officials, including lawmakers and relatives of former ministers, were named in the audit for receiving large sums under questionable contracts.
For instance, the wife of a former minister allegedly received N48 billion over a 12-month period for training Niger Delta women.
“Despite the audit being funded by taxpayers, the Buhari administration failed to act on its findings, allegedly to protect those indicted. The NDDC report was submitted four years ago and has yet to see daylight,” SERAP said.
It added that many NDDC contracts were allegedly awarded to members of the National Assembly, worsening the region’s lack of infrastructure and basic services.
“The consequences of the missing N6 trillion and thousands of abandoned projects are real—dilapidated schools, crumbling healthcare systems, power outages, and worsening poverty in the Niger Delta,” the group said.
Publishing the report and prosecuting those involved, SERAP stressed, would reinforce public confidence in anti-corruption efforts, ensure restitution for victims, and help restore transparency and accountability in the NDDC.
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