The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, seeking a court order compelling them to disclose how billions of naira allocated as security votes have been spent since May 29, 2023.
The legal action comes amid growing public concern over persistent insecurity across several states and the FCT, including recent deadly attacks in Benue State, despite more than ₦400 billion reportedly budgeted nationwide each year as security votes. At least 10 governors are said to have earmarked about ₦140 billion for the purpose in the 2026 fiscal year alone.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to compel the governors and the FCT minister to make public detailed records of security vote spending from May 29, 2023 to date. The organisation is also requesting full disclosure of allocations, utilisation, implementation status, completion reports, and any plans designed to strengthen security infrastructure in their respective jurisdictions.
According to SERAP, transparency in the management of security votes is essential to democratic accountability and public trust. The organisation argued that Nigerians are entitled to know how funds collected in the name of safeguarding lives and property are deployed.
“Nigerians ought to know in what manner public funds, including security votes meant to ensure the security of life and property, are spent by the governors and the FCT minister,” SERAP stated in the suit.
The group warned that continued secrecy surrounding security vote expenditures has coincided with escalating insecurity that is inflicting severe social and economic hardship on vulnerable Nigerians.
“The escalating insecurity in several states and the FCT is taking a devastating toll on socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians, driving extreme poverty, intensifying hunger, and leading to grave human rights violations,” the organisation said.
SERAP further contended that many governors and the FCT administration have failed to discharge their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, as required under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
In documents filed by SERAP’s lawyers Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo, and Valentina Adegoke the organisation cautioned that the lack of oversight over security votes creates room for abuse.
“There is a significant risk of embezzlement, misappropriation, or diversion of public funds collected as security votes,” the suit read.
SERAP also relied on a landmark Supreme Court judgment affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to public records across the federation, including those held by state governments and the FCT.
“While authorities may withhold certain operational details in the name of national security, there is no constitutional or legal basis to hide basic information on public spending from the people,” the organisation argued.
Linking the matter to Nigeria’s broader development challenges, SERAP referenced the World Bank’s classification of Nigeria as a fragile and conflict-affected state, noting that insecurity continues to worsen poverty, food insecurity, and access to basic services.
The organisation stressed that compelling disclosure of security vote spending would strengthen transparency, curb corruption, and restore public confidence in governance.