SERAP Sues Power Minister Over N128 Billion Void

The battle for transparency in Nigeria's energy sector has moved from the parliament chambers to the courtroom. On January 25, 2026, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed a high-stakes lawsuit against the current administration's key figures in power distribution. They are demanding answers for a staggering N128 billion that simply vanished from public accounts. It wasn't just any court; the petition landed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The defendants are heavyweights: Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, Federal Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET). The timing couldn't be more sensitive. Just weeks before this filing, Nigerians were plunged into darkness during the first major grid collapse of 2026. It feels less like bureaucratic housekeeping and more like a reckoning.

Breaking Down the N128 Billion Hole

So where did the money go? That is the question driving this entire legal battle. According to the latest annual report from the Auditor-General of the Federation, released on September 9, 2025, the Ministry of Power failed to account for massive sums. We aren't talking about rounding errors here. These are specific transfers with no corresponding work completed. The breakdown reveals some troubling patterns. First, over N4.4 billion sent to project accounts for Mambilla, Zungeru, and Kashimbilla hydro projects disappeared without a trail. Then there is the elephant in the room: N95 billion paid to contractors. The auditors noted there was zero documentation proving these projects existed or were executed. On top of that, nearly N8 billion from NBET went to "beneficiaries" without being recorded in the payment vouchers. When officials unaccountably spend money on travel that never gets approved by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the public trust evaporates. As Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director, SERAP put it, Nigerians continue to pay the price for this widespread grand corruption.

The Administration's Defense

But wait, the narrative isn't one-sided. Minister Adelabu pushed back hard on the allegations through his media aide, Bolaji Tunji. The core of his defense rests entirely on timelines. He clarified that the audit report in question relates strictly to the 2022 financial year. This predates the inauguration of the presidency led by Bola Tinubu. Essentially, Adelabu is arguing he shouldn't be held personally responsible for accounting gaps created under a previous regime. This distinction matters legally, but practically? Not so much. When the current government assumes control of the Ministry of Power, they inherit the liabilities. However, the minister felt compelled to clarify after Oluwadare publicly called on President Tinubu to direct the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, to investigate. The debate shifts from who spent the money to who should stop the bleeding now.

Power Outages and Public Trust

There is a direct line between unaccounted funds and lights going out. SERAP emphasizes that corruption contributes significantly to frequent grid collapses. You cannot manage a national grid effectively when budget allocations vanish into thin air. The maintenance equipment fails, the plants don't run, and consumers stay in the dark. This is why the lawsuit matters beyond just returning cash to the treasury. The organization argues that recovered funds should bridge the deficit in the 2026 budget. Given Nigeria's crippling debt burden described by critics, every kobo counts. The allegations suggest a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 and international anticorruption obligations. If the courts agree, this could set a precedent for future accountability in other federal ministries.

The Legal Path Forward

Now we enter the waiting phase. The case number FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026 tracks the progress. SERAP is seeking multiple orders of mandamus—compelling actions by the state. They want three things specifically:

• A directive forcing Adelabu and NBET to fully account for the missing N128 billion.
• Compulsory disclosure of all transaction details, including dates and contractor names.
• Identification of every public officer who authorized the release of these funds.

The goal isn't just punishment; it's closure. SERAP wants President Tinubu to order a probe, prosecute culpable parties, and deploy recovered funds to ease the debt crisis. With a discussion already held on News Central TV explaining the red flags, the pressure is on for swift action. For citizens watching their bills pile up while the grid fails, the outcome of this trial could define how seriously the nation treats its resources.