The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the governors of the 36 states of the Federation and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over their failure to account for and publish the agreements of the N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT, respectively.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeks to compel the governors and Mr. Wike to account for the loans and publish copies of the loan agreements and the location of projects executed with the loans.
In a statement made available to Africa Health Report on Sunday,
SERAP argues that it is in the public interest to grant the reliefs sought, as Nigerians have the right to scrutinize the loan agreements and know the details of how the loans are spent.
The group also urged the court to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the spending of all the loans obtained by the states and the FCT.
Recall that the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, had earlier expressed concern over the huge debt inherited from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, stating that the state is now left with insufficient funds to pay salaries.
SERAP emphasised, “It is in the public interest to grant the reliefs sought. Nigerians have the right to see and scrutinise the loan agreements and know the details of how the domestic and external loans obtained by the governors and FCT minister are spent.”
The lawsuit comes amid reports that some states allegedly spend public funds, including loans, on unnecessary travels, luxury cars, and lavish lifestyles of politicians.
While no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit, SERAP lamented that the poverty rate, underdevelopment, and lack of access to public goods and services in the country are a result of the alleged corruption and mismanagement of public funds, including the loans obtained by the states and the FCT.
