The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its failure to reveal details of payments made directly to the 774 local government areas (LGAs), including those in Rivers State.
The lawsuit follows a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024, which ordered that allocations from the Federation Account must be paid directly to democratically elected local councils. The court also ruled that governors have no power to withhold or control these funds.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP’s suit seeks to compel the CBN to disclose whether it has made any such payments, how much was sent to each council, and why.
SERAP argues that disclosing the payments would promote transparency, uphold the rule of law, and ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment. The group also says that failure to follow the ruling threatens the existence and function of local governments.
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According to SERAP, the CBN has a duty to protect public funds and ensure fair distribution to all three tiers of government. The group claims state governors have continued to withhold LGA funds, worsening poverty and weakening local governance.
Reports say that local councils have since opened dedicated CBN accounts to receive funds directly, following the court’s decision. SERAP is relying on the Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and human rights laws to demand public access to the payment details.
The Federation Account Allocation Committee shared N1.578 trillion in March 2025 among federal, state, and local governments.
SERAP’s legal team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Oluwakemi Oni, insists the CBN must not allow governors to defy court orders or misuse public funds.
