Group to Akpabio, Abbas: Probe alleged diversion of ₦6.3b constituency project funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas “to urgently refer allegations that ₦6.3 billion in constituency project funds may have been diverted, misapplied, or remain unaccounted for to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.”

The allegations are documented in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 annual report, published on September 9, 2025.

SERAP made the demand in a letter dated June 27, 2026 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The letter reads in part: “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 to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest.

“The allegations involve several federal ministries, departments and agencies, including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON); the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Volm; the Federal Polytechnic, Udana; the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). 

“The Auditor-General identified numerous cases of payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded without due process, payments for contracts not executed or services not rendered, undocumented expenditures, inflated contracts, procurement irregularities and failures to account for public funds, recommending in each case that the funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury. 

“According to the 2022 audited report, contained in pages 367 to 396, the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON or Council) Abuja paid over ‘N22 million [N22,944,565.16] into the private account of some members of staff of the Council from the Constituency Projects Fund Account.

“There ‘was no evidence of the utilization of the funds and no explanations on the purpose for the payment of such amount into the individual accounts.’ 

“The Council also in 2021 ‘awarded suspicious consultancy contracts of over N12 million [N12,030,818.29] for the development of Modern Abattoirs in Kebbi State and the supervision of 7 projects in Kebbi, Jigawa, and Headquarters Abuja.’

“The money was to ‘produce bills of quantity, architectural design, structural design, mechanical design, and electrical designs for the contracts and supervision.’ But ‘the ‘items could not be found.’ 

“The Council ‘awarded contracts of over N404 million [N404,480,531.24] to companies without adequate registration profiles. Some companies ‘used two names, and used invalid Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC) to the payment vouchers of some of the contracts.’

“The Council also ‘awarded contracts of over N103 million [N103,250,000.00] for capacity building without any documents.’ There ‘was no evidence that the three contractors who collected the money were involved in any capacity-building activity. The ‘names of the contractors were not on the banners and flyers of the events.’

“The Council as reportedly ‘paid over N656 million [N656,295,589.44] for constituency and zonal intervention projects without any authorization.’

“The Council in 2021 also paid ‘over N389 million [N389,613,540.00] to contractors to develop modern abattoirs, improve hygiene, and sanitation in meat handling at Argungu Market, Suru, Kebbi North.’ But ‘the contracts were never executed.’

“The ‘pictures of the project used for the first contractor were the same used for the second contractor.’

“The Council ‘awarded 12 contracts for over N563 million [N563,999,524.37] without any priced bill of engineering measurement.’ Most of ‘the contracts were awarded long before the consultancy contracts for their designs and drafts of their bills of quantity were awarded.’ 

“The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom in 2022 reportedly ‘paid over N279 million [N279,700,500.00] to 3 contractors to empower and train youths in selected vocational areas in Borgu and Kontagora, Niger State, train women and youths in entrepreneurship in Niger East Senatorial District and to train youths and women in agro production and self-reliance in Barki Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau State.

“But ‘the money was paid to the contractors without any document.’ 

“The College also ‘paid over N279 million [N279,700,500.00] as mobilization fees to some contractors for construction and supplies but without any document.’ There was also ‘no evidence that the College confirmed the authenticity of the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) from the banks before the mobilization fees were paid.’

“The College in 2022 ‘paid over N279 million [N279,700,500.00] to unqualified contractors for the provision of services such as medical outreach, empowerment of youths and vocational training.’

“There was ‘no evidence of procurement due process and contractors’ eligibility for the contracts awarded, no company profile, no certificate of registration, no tax clearance certificate and no pictorial evidence of the projects executed.’

“The College in 2022 ‘paid over N629 million [N629,424,345,88] to unqualified contractors to supply fertilizer to Shendam/Quan’anpan/Mikang Federal Constituency, Plateau State; training for women and youths in Kwara North Senatorial District and Ifelodu/Oyu/Offa Federal Constituency; and to install solar street lights in Nkalagu Isielu LGA, Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, Ebonyi State.’

“The ‘money also included payments to contractors for various Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau State locations; to train youths and women in entrepreneurship in unknown location; to train them in self-reliance in Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency; to promote Animal Husbandry and train youths and women in Plateau South and North Senatorial Districts.’

“But ‘there was no document on how the money was spent, and no details of the contractors were provided.’ There ‘was also no advertisement of the contracts, no minutes of the Procurement Planning Committee, and no financial and technical bid evaluation reports.’

“The Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa-Ibom State also ‘paid over N407 million [N407,179,495.39] to some contractors as mobilization fees for construction and supplies’, but without any document. There was also ‘no evidence that the College confirmed the authenticity of the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) from the banks before the mobilization fees were paid to the contractors.’