Court orders Tinubu to expose NDDC scandal, publish names of ₦6 trillion looters, forensic audit report

Abuja, FCT – In a groundbreaking victory for transparency and anti-corruption advocates, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a binding order compelling President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to publicly disclose the names of individuals implicated in the alleged embezzlement of over ₦6 trillion from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019.

The court's directive also mandates the immediate release of a long-withheld forensic audit report, spotlighting thousands of abandoned projects in Nigeria's oil-rich but impoverished Niger Delta region.

Justice Gladys Olotu delivered the judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2021, granting two key orders of mandamus against the federal government.

The first compels President Tinubu to instruct the AGF and Minister of Justice to "widely publish the names of those indicted in the alleged misappropriation of over N6 trillion in the running of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019," as detailed in the forensic audit.

This scandal is linked to the failure to execute 13,777 critical infrastructure projects, exacerbating socio-economic hardships in the region, including limited access to education, healthcare, and reliable electricity.

The second order requires the president to "publish and make available to the public the Forensic Audit Report on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) submitted on September 2, 2021."

The report, prepared by a panel led by renowned accountant Jim Ohuokhai Obazee, has remained under wraps despite repeated demands, fueling accusations of a government cover-up spanning multiple administrations.

The case was instituted in November 2021 by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a prominent non-governmental organization focused on human rights and governance.

SERAP argued that withholding the report and names violates the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011, Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Nigeria's international commitments under treaties like the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The group highlighted how the missing funds have perpetuated poverty and underdevelopment in the Niger Delta, home to vast oil reserves that generate billions for the nation yet deliver little to local communities.

In her ruling, Justice Olotu affirmed that the audit report and list of indicted persons qualify as public records under Section 31 of the FOIA, with no exemptions applicable under Sections 11-19, as they pertain to the management of public funds.

"The 1st respondent (President Tinubu) has a non-discretionary duty to publish the names and the report," the judge stated, emphasizing the state's obligation to foster accountability.

The judgment marks a rare enforcement action against executive inaction on corruption probes. Originally filed during former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure, the suit persisted into the Tinubu administration, underscoring systemic delays in addressing high-profile graft allegations.

SERAP's legal victory builds on prior court wins, including a 2023 ruling against the Central Bank of Nigeria over unaccounted funds, but this case uniquely targets a regional development agency notorious for scandals.

Reactions poured in swiftly following the release of the certified true copy of the judgment last Friday.

Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP's Deputy Director, hailed the decision as "a major victory for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law."

In a statement, he urged President Tinubu to "immediately obey the court's orders" and demonstrate leadership by directing the AGF to act without delay. Oluwadare also penned a November 22 letter to the president, calling for a "clean break with the past" through swift publication and prosecution of those responsible.

Civil society groups and opposition voices echoed these sentiments, with the Transparency International Nigeria chapter describing the order as a "watershed moment" for reclaiming stolen public wealth.

As of press time, the presidency and AGF's office had not issued an official response. Legal experts anticipate swift compliance to avoid contempt proceedings, though historical precedents like the unprosecuted Halliburton scandal raise doubts about follow-through.

The NDDC, established in 2000 to foster development in nine Niger Delta states, has long been plagued by allegations of fraud, with auditors uncovering inflated contracts, ghost projects, and unauthorized expenditures totaling trillions.

This ruling arrives at a pivotal time for Tinubu's administration, which pledged a "renewed hope" agenda centered on fighting corruption.

With the 2027 elections looming, the publication could expose political heavyweights from past regimes, potentially reshaping alliances in the region.

For now, Nigerians await action, hoping this mandamus will finally unlock accountability in one of the country's most enduring financial mysteries.