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Court Orders Tinubu to Publish Names Linked to ₦6 Trillion NDDC Misappropriation


The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a far-reaching order compelling President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to publish the names of all individuals indicted in the alleged misappropriation of over ₦6 trillion linked to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019.

The order, delivered by Justice Gladys Olotu on Monday, November 10, followed a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in 2021. The certified true copy of the judgment became public last Friday.

The ruling marks one of the most significant judicial interventions in Nigeria’s long-running struggle to address corruption within the NDDC an agency originally established to improve development in the oil-rich Niger Delta but repeatedly linked to financial wastage, abandoned projects, and mismanagement.

Court Orders Immediate Release of Forensic Audit Report

In addition to the directive to publish the names of those indicted, the court ordered President Tinubu to release the full NDDC forensic audit report, which was formally submitted to the Federal Government on September 2, 2021. The report has remained inaccessible to the public despite widespread concerns over thousands of abandoned projects and the alleged diversion of trillions of naira earmarked for development across the region.

Justice Olotu held that the forensic audit report and the list of indicted individuals clearly qualify as “public records” under Section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act. She ruled that the documents do not fall under any of the exemptions listed in Sections 11 to 19 of the Act, since they relate directly to the management and expenditure of public funds.

The judge declared that the refusal of the President and the Attorney General to release the report amounted to a breach of their legal obligations under the FOI Act and Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates public officers to uphold transparency and accountability. She also pointed out that withholding the information contradicts Nigeria’s international commitments to openness in governance.

Citing Section 2(3) of the FOI Act, Justice Olotu emphasized that all public institutions are legally required to proactively publish certain categories of information, especially financial records and details of expenditures. According to her, SERAP successfully demonstrated that it had a clear legal right to the requested information and that the Federal Government had failed to comply despite repeated formal demands.

Reacting to the judgment, SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the ruling as a major milestone in Nigeria’s fight against corruption. He said the judgment restores public confidence in the legal system and reinforces citizens’ right to demand accountability from the government.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also hailed the ruling, calling it “one of the most patriotic public interest judgments in recent years.” Falana urged President Tinubu to demonstrate genuine commitment to transparency by promptly publishing the audit report and ensuring that those implicated are brought to justice.

In a letter dated November 22, 2025, SERAP urged President Tinubu to comply with the judgment without delay. The organisation reminded the President that releasing the report is essential to uncovering the truth behind the 13,777 abandoned projects and the missing ₦6 trillion reportedly earmarked for development initiatives across the Niger Delta.

SERAP also appealed to the President to “make a clean break from the past” by embracing transparency and rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s governance processes.

SERAP filed the lawsuit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2021, after the Federal Government failed to act on repeated requests to disclose the names of individuals linked to the mismanagement of NDDC funds and to release the full audit report. The organisation argued that the missing ₦6 trillion and thousands of abandoned projects have had devastating effects on citizens, depriving communities of essential public services such as healthcare, education, clean water, and reliable electricity.

Orders Granted by the Court

Justice Olotu granted two key orders of mandamus:

  1. The President must direct the Attorney General to publish the names of those indicted in the alleged misappropriation of over ₦6 trillion within the NDDC between 2000 and 2019.

  2. The President must publish the complete NDDC forensic audit report, which was submitted to the Federal Government in 2021.

The judgment is expected to intensify pressure on the Federal Government to address longstanding concerns surrounding the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the NDDC, as well as drive renewed calls for reforms within the commission.

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