The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged all the state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike before the Federal High Court in Lagos over their failure to account for N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans.
SERAP, in the suit that is yet to be assigned to a judge, is asking the court to compel the governors and the FCT Minister to account and publish copies of the loan agreements, including details and locations of projects executed with the loans.
The organisation is also asking the court to direct the defendants to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the spending of all the loans obtained to date by their states and the FCT.
In an affidavit attached to the suit, the plaintiff is arguing that it is in the public interest to grant the reliefs sought because 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.
SERAP also averred that opacity in the spending of the loans obtained by the defendants would continue to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.
The civil society organisation further argues that many states and the FCT are reportedly spending public funds, which may include the loans obtained to fund unnecessary travel, buy exotic and bulletproof cars and generally invest in the lavish lifestyles of politicians.
SERAP is also arguing that many states and the FCT are also allegedly mismanaging public funds, which may include domestic and external loans obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies.
The plaintiff claimed that many states and the FCT reportedly owe civil servants’ salaries and pensions and are borrowing to pay salaries, saying at the same time, millions of Nigerian residents continue to be denied access to essential public goods and services such as quality education and healthcare.
SERAP further insisted that transparency in the spending of the loans obtained by the states and FCT is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions to strengthen the rule of law.
The plaintiff also stated, “Widely publishing copies of the loan agreements and spending details of the loans obtained would ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for performing their duties in the management of public funds.
“State governors and Mr Wike cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to their states and the FCT. The 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.
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N5.9 trillion. The total public external debt portfolio is $4.6 billion.
“The domestic and external loans obtained by the states and the FCT are vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement. The states and FCT have a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by the states and FCT are spent to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.
“Directing and compelling the states and FCT to publish copies of the loan agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise them and promote transparency and accountability on the spending of public funds, including the loans obtained.
“Providing and widely publishing the details of the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by the states and FCT would enable Nigerians to effectively and meaningfully engage in managing the loans.
“The constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know the details of loan agreements and how the loans obtained are spent. Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability, which is, in turn, crucial for the country’s democratic order.
“The effective operation of representative democracy depends on the people being able to scrutinise, discuss and contribute to government decision making, including the spending of loans obtained by the states and FCT.
“To do this, they need information to enable them to participate more effectively in managing public funds by their state governments and the FCT.
“The public interest in obtaining information about expenditures relating to the loans obtained by the states and FCT outweighs any privacy or other interest.
“The oversight afforded by public access to such details would serve as an essential check on the activities of the states and FCT and help to prevent abuses of the public trust.
“There is a significant risk of mismanagement or diversion of funds linked to loans obtained by state governments and the FCT. The accounts of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT are generally not open to public scrutiny.
“The Nigerian Constitution, human rights and anti-corruption treaties to which Nigeria is a state party also impose obligations on the states and FCT to prevent mismanagement or diversion of public funds, including the loans obtained.
“Many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, including the loans obtained by the states and FCT, have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services,” SERAP stated.
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