A civil society organisation in Nigeria, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has dragged the 36 state governors of the Federation and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to court over their failure to account for and publish agreements made in N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT respectively.

The lawsuit with the number FHC/ABJ/CS/592/2024, was filed on behalf of the group by its legal team comprising of Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Valentina Adegoke, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In a statement on Sunday confirming the suit, the CSO said it has “asked the court to direct and compel the 36 governors and Wike to account for the N5.9trn and $4.6bn loans obtained by their states and the FCT and to publish copies of the loan agreements, location of projects executed with the loans for the public to see.

According to SERAP, the suit is sequel to its earlier demand addressed to the 37 respondents in a statement issued by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on March 31.

In the suit, SERAP prayed the court to “direct and compel the governors and Mr. Wike 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 to date by their states and the FCT.”

“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,” it said.

“Opacity in the spending of the loans obtained by the governors and Mr. Wike would continue to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.”

SERAP further noted that many states in the country, including the FCT, had spent “public funds which may include the loans obtained by them to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bulletproof cars and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians.”

“According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N5.9 trillion. The total public external debt portfolio is $4.6 billion,” the group said.

It also accused the respondents of “allegedly mismanaging public funds which may include domestic and external loans obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies.”

“SERAP demands transparency in the spending of the loans as they are fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.

“The governors and the FCT Minister cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to their states and the FCT.

“Legal obligations to publish the information sought are also imposed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”