The organisation described the move as necessary to ensure financial transparency. The lawsuit demands the publication of detailed spending reports and agreements related to loans acquired by the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the suit aims to compel the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Debt Management Office to disclose how the loans, totalling billions of dollars, were utilised. SERAP contends that the citizens’ right to know how public funds are spent is fundamental to democratic governance and accountability.
The organisation argued that transparency in loan agreements and expenditures is critical for Nigerians to evaluate their government’s performance, especially in light of persistent extreme poverty and inadequate public services despite substantial borrowing.
According to a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the outcome of the case could significantly impact the transparency and accountability mechanisms in Nigeria’s financial management.