ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to refer allegations involving the diversion or failure to account for more than ₦6.3 billion in constituency project funds to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.
The organisation also called on the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted where sufficient admissible evidence exists, and that all diverted or unaccounted public funds are recovered and returned to the treasury.
In a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the allegations were contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
The group made this known in a statement signed by Oluwadare and released on Sunday.
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SERAP further urged Akpabio and Abbas to disclose the identities of contractors and companies, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, that allegedly received constituency project funds without executing the projects.
The organisation gave the National Assembly seven days to implement its recommendations, warning that it would institute legal action if the legislature failed to respond.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated.
It said, “The allegations involve several federal ministries, departments and agencies, including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON); the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Volm; the Federal Polytechnic, Udana; the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
“The Auditor-General identified numerous cases of payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded without due process, payments for contracts not executed or services not rendered, undocumented expenditures, inflated contracts, procurement irregularities and failures to account for public funds, recommending in each case that the funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
“According to the 2022 audited report, contained in pages 367 to 396, the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON or Council) Abuja paid over ‘N22 million (N22,944,565.16)into the private account of some members of staff of the Council from the Constituency Projects Fund Account.
“There ‘was no evidence of the utilization of the funds and no explanations on the purpose for the payment of such amount into the individual accounts.’”
SERAP added, “The Council (EHORECON) also in 2021 ‘awarded suspicious consultancy contracts of over N12 million (N12,030,818.29) for the development of Modern Abattoirs in Kebbi State and the supervision of 7 projects in Kebbi, Jigawa, and Headquarters Abuja.’
The money was to ‘produce bills of quantity, architectural design, structural design, mechanical design, and electrical designs for the contracts and supervision.’ But ‘the ‘items could not be found.’”
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s 2022 report alleged that EHORECON was involved in questionable constituency project transactions amounting to more than ₦1.8 billion.
For the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, SERAP said the institution “in 2022 reportedly ‘paid over N279 million (N279,700,500.00)to 3 contractors to empower and train youths in selected vocational areas in Borgu and Kontagora, Niger State, train women and youths in entrepreneurship in Niger East Senatorial District and to train youths and women in agro production and self-reliance in Barki Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau State.
“But ‘the money was paid to the contractors without any document.’”
The organisation also cited additional irregularities involving the college, including another ₦279.7 million allegedly paid as mobilisation fees without supporting documentation, as well as more than ₦629.4 million paid to unqualified contractors for constituency projects without evidence of due process, contract advertisements or contractor details.
SERAP further alleged that the Auditor-General’s report identified several financial irregularities at the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State.
These include more than ₦407 million allegedly paid as mobilisation fees without supporting documents, over ₦399 million paid to unqualified contractors, contracts allegedly inflated by more than ₦192 million, over ₦279 million paid for projects that were not fully executed, ₦50 million allegedly paid for an unexecuted borehole project, and more than ₦83 million disbursed without the required documentation or approvals.
It also alleged that NAPTIP irregularly awarded contracts valued at over ₦21.8 million, paid more than ₦176.8 million for logistics and consultancy services without supporting documents, and disbursed over ₦89.6 million and ₦4.4 million for projects that were allegedly not executed.
The report further alleged that NILDS failed to submit audited financial statements covering 2012 to 2022, did not remit more than ₦15 million in stamp duties, and spent ₦1.6 million without authorisation from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
SERAP said the Auditor-General recommended that all affected funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
The organisation argued that corruption in constituency projects disproportionately harms poor and vulnerable Nigerians by diverting resources intended for public services and development.
It added that the National Assembly, in carrying out its oversight responsibilities, should demonstrate leadership by ensuring accountability in the management of constituency project funds.
SERAP further maintained that the allegations, if proven, would constitute violations of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Public Procurement Act 2007, all of which require transparency, accountability and due process in the management of public resources.