The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over its alleged failure to account for billions of naira and millions of dollars in oil revenues said to be missing or diverted. The civil society organisation is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the national oil company to provide a full and transparent account of the disputed funds.
SERAP disclosed the legal action in a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. According to the organisation, the suit was prompted by serious allegations contained in the 2022 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was officially published on September 9, 2025. The report reportedly raised concerns over the handling of substantial oil revenues by the NNPC.
The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, seeks an order of mandamus directing NNPC Limited to account for the alleged missing or diverted sums, which include ₦22.3 billion, USD 49.7 million, £14.3 million, and €5.2 million. SERAP argues that as a publicly owned company managing Nigeria’s most critical economic resource, the NNPC has a legal and moral obligation to explain how these funds were generated, managed, and disbursed.
Beyond demanding a general accounting, SERAP is also asking the court to compel the NNPC to disclose detailed information on the specific financial transactions linked to the disputed sums. This includes full records of disbursements, the identities of contractors, companies, or individuals who received the funds, and the purposes for which the payments were allegedly made.
In its court filings, SERAP contends that the alleged diversion or misappropriation of oil revenues is not an isolated issue but reflects a broader pattern of weak accountability and transparency within the NNPC. The organisation argued that the national oil company has consistently failed to uphold basic principles of openness, despite repeated public commitments to reform and corporate governance improvements.
According to SERAP, granting the reliefs sought in the suit would represent a major step toward ending impunity in Nigeria’s oil sector. The group said a court order compelling accountability would help ensure that those responsible for the alleged disappearance of oil revenues are identified and held to account. It also maintained that any recovered funds should be returned for the benefit of Nigerians, whom it described as the ultimate victims of oil sector mismanagement.
“The diverted or misappropriated oil revenues reflect a failure of NNPC accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability,” SERAP said. The organisation added that the alleged missing funds have had far-reaching consequences for the country’s economic and social development.
SERAP argued that the disappearance of such large sums has undermined Nigeria’s economic progress, worsened poverty levels, and deprived millions of citizens of opportunities and essential public services. According to the group, oil revenues that should have been invested in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social protection have instead allegedly been lost to corruption or mismanagement.
The organisation further noted that concerns about missing oil revenues are not new. It pointed out that the Auditor-General of the Federation has, over several years, documented recurring cases of unremitted, unaccounted-for, or diverted oil funds involving the NNPC and related agencies. Despite these repeated findings, SERAP said there has been little evidence of meaningful accountability or recovery of the funds in question.
“Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing oil monies meant to provide essential public services,” SERAP stated, adding that the persistent failure to address the issues raised in official audit reports has eroded public trust in the management of the country’s oil wealth.
In its argument before the court, SERAP linked accountability in the oil sector directly to Nigeria’s human rights obligations. The group maintained that widespread corruption and opacity in the management of oil revenues have contributed significantly to poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment. It argued that tackling corruption in the oil sector would not only strengthen public finances but also improve access to basic goods and services for millions of Nigerians.
SERAP also emphasised that transparency in the oil sector is essential for Nigeria to meet its domestic and international anti-corruption commitments. The organisation noted that Nigeria is a signatory to several international conventions that require public institutions to prevent corruption, ensure transparency in the management of public resources, and provide effective remedies when violations occur.
According to SERAP, effective accountability in the oil sector would enhance the government’s ability to fulfil its human rights obligations, including the rights to health, education, and an adequate standard of living. The group argued that when oil revenues are properly managed and accounted for, they can be deployed to improve social services, create jobs, and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
The lawsuit comes amid ongoing debates about transparency and reform in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, particularly following the transition of the NNPC into a limited liability company. While the company has repeatedly stated that it is committed to transparency and commercial discipline, civil society groups have continued to raise concerns about financial disclosures and compliance with audit recommendations.
SERAP said the court’s intervention is necessary to compel the NNPC to fulfil its accountability obligations and to ensure that the findings of the Auditor-General do not remain mere paperwork without consequences. The organisation maintained that public interest litigation remains one of the most effective tools for promoting transparency and curbing corruption in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing the suit, NNPC Limited had not publicly responded to SERAP’s allegations or the specific claims contained in the Auditor-General’s report. The case is expected to test the willingness of Nigeria’s judicial system to enforce accountability in the management of the country’s most lucrative sector.
SERAP expressed hope that the court would grant its requests, arguing that doing so would send a strong signal that no public institution is above the law. The organisation said such a ruling would reaffirm the principle that Nigeria’s oil wealth belongs to the people and must be managed in a transparent and accountable manner for the benefit of present and future generations.
