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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for the expenditure of billions of naira earmarked as security votes.
According to the rights group, the suit was initiated following persistent reports of violent attacks, including the recent killings in Benue State, and the continued spread of insecurity across several states and the FCT, despite huge allocations meant to safeguard lives and property.
SERAP said more than ₦400 billion is budgeted annually nationwide as security votes, raising concerns about transparency and impact.
Furthermore, the organisation disclosed that at least 10 governors reportedly set aside about ₦140 billion as security votes in their 2026 budgets alone, even as insecurity continues to worsen in many parts of the country.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Through the suit, SERAP is asking the court to compel the governors and the FCT minister to publicly disclose detailed records of how security votes have been spent from May 29, 2023, to date.
SERAP argued that the persistent failure to account for the funds undermines public trust and weakens accountability mechanisms, especially given that the resources are intended to guarantee the security of lives and property.
Meanwhile, the organisation warned that escalating insecurity is having severe social and economic consequences, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.
It noted that the situation is fueling extreme poverty, worsening hunger and triggering broader human rights concerns, while accusing several governors and the FCT administration of failing to meet their constitutional obligation to protect citizens.