Name, Shame, And Prosecute Those Behind Alleged Embezzlement Of N6Trillion NDDC Funds - SERAP Tells Tinubu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to promptly investigate allegations that top government officials and politicians named in the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2000 to 2019 deliberately obstructed the report's release.

SERAP urged him "to direct Mr Fagbemi and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly identify those responsible for obstructing the release of the report and bring them to justice for obstruction of justice."

SERAP also urged him "to direct Mr Fagbemi to immediately publish the NDDC forensic report and to name and shame those responsible for the alleged embezzlement of over N6 trillion in the NDDC, bring them to justice, and recover any proceeds of corruption, and provide adequate compensation to victims."

In a letter dated July 5, 2025, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation stated: "While the audit report may make uncomfortable reading for the indicted officials and politicians, your government has a constitutional responsibility to publish it and act upon its recommendations.

"The forensic audit report of the NDDC can no longer be left to gather dust. The continued failure to publish the audit report undermines public trust and confidence, particularly of victims of corruption in the Niger Delta who have waited far too long for justice and accountability.

"Obstructing the release of the forensic audit report or hiding it is a grave and wilful attempt to obstruct, prevent and pervert the course of justice for the allegations of corruption in the NDDC."

The letter read in part: "Obstructing the release of the forensic audit report or hiding it, and delaying the implementation of its recommendations have enabled suspected perpetrators to evade justice and denied access to justice for victims.

"We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions before the ECOWAS Court of Justice to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest."

SERAP noted that about N1.4 billion was reportedly approved for the auditors who carried out the NDDC forensic audit.

"The fact that the forensic audit undertaken at public expense has been gathering dust on an official's desk for several years shows the failure of the Buhari administration to deliver justice for the people of the Niger Delta who are the primary victims of alleged corruption in the NDDC," it said.

It lamented that the “administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari allegedly left the report to gather dusk to protect those officials and politicians”.

It continued, “The wife of a former minister allegedly collected N48 billion over 12 months 'to train Niger Delta women.'

"Most of the contracts in the NDDC are also allegedly given out to members of the National Assembly."

"SERAP notes that the Buhari administration launched an audit to examine the commission's financial dealings and project execution from 2001 to August 2019, seeking to uncover mismanagement, fund misappropriation, and other discrepancies.

"The NDDC forensic audit report allegedly reveals grim allegations of misappropriation of N6 trillion in the commission between 2000 and 2019, and that there are over 13,000 abandoned projects in the Niger Delta.

"The NDDC forensic audit report was supposed to be published by the Buhari administration. Four years after it was submitted to the former president, the report still has not seen the light of the day."