SERAP Sues Adelabu, NBET Over Alleged Missing ₦128bn in Power Ministry

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) over what it described as the failure to account for an alleged missing or diverted ₦128 billion in public funds.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to compel the defendants to explain how the funds earmarked for the power sector were spent, recovered, or allegedly diverted. The organisation said the lawsuit followed reports indicating that the funds could not be properly accounted for by the Ministry of Power and NBET.

SERAP argued that the alleged disappearance of such a huge sum of public money violates the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption obligations, particularly citizens’ right to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

According to SERAP, the failure to account for the ₦128 billion has worsened Nigeria’s electricity crisis, denying millions of Nigerians access to reliable power supply and undermining economic growth.

The organisation is also seeking an order directing the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged missing funds and prosecute anyone found responsible.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Minister of Power nor NBET had publicly responded to the lawsuit.