The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has instituted legal action against state governors and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, for allegedly refusing to disclose how billions of naira released as security votes have been utilised since May 29, 2023.
SERAP said it approached the Federal High Court in Abuja following persistent breakdown of security across the states and the FCT despite massive allocations to security-related expenditure.
The organisation cited recent killings in Benue State and escalating violence nationwide as justification for public scrutiny.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, and filed last Friday, SERAP is asking the court to order the governors and the FCT administration to publish details of security vote disbursement and spending from May 29, 2023 till date.
The advocacy group is equally urging the court to compel the respondents to provide breakdowns of security vote utilisation, implementation progress of projects funded under the scheme, and plans to strengthen security architecture in their jurisdictions.
SERAP noted that over N400bn is earmarked annually nationwide for security votes, while at least 10 states reportedly budgeted N140bn for the same purpose in their 2026 appropriation bills.
The suit argued that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know how funds meant to safeguard lives and property are deployed.
“It is vital for the public to understand how monies allocated for security are spent,” SERAP stated, insisting that ongoing secrecy contradicts democratic principles and transparency requirements.
The organisation raised concerns that worsening insecurity has deepened hardship, hunger and rights violations, accusing several governors of failing to perform their constitutional duty to protect citizens.
According to SERAP, nothing in the Constitution supports the opaque use of public funds under the guise of security votes.
“The 1999 Constitution was never designed to allow secret spending of taxpayers’ money,” the group insisted, warning that secrecy opens the door to embezzlement and diversion of funds.
Represented in court by lawyers Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke, SERAP argued that long-standing lack of disclosure has weakened accountability structures and allowed officials to evade public oversight.
Citing a Supreme Court judgment affirming that the Freedom of Information Act applies to all public institutions nationwide, SERAP stressed that governors can no longer hide under claims that the Act does not cover state-level spending.
The body maintained that while operational details related to national security may justifiably remain confidential, essential financial disclosures cannot be withheld.
“Treating security votes as private entitlements violates public trust and constitutional safeguards,” SERAP stated.
The group also referenced a new World Bank assessment classifying Nigeria among countries facing fragility and conflict, a development linked to escalating violence, poverty, food scarcity and weak state institutions.
Countries in the same classified bracket include Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and others.