The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered President Bola Tinubu to release the full forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and expose the identities of those indicted in the alleged misappropriation of over N6 trillion.
The funds in question were meant for the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region between 2000 and 2019 but were allegedly siphoned, leaving 13,777 projects abandoned.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Gladys Olotu granted an order of mandamus compelling the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to widely publish the names of the indicted individuals.
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The court also ordered that the forensic audit report, which was submitted to the federal government on September 2, 2021, be made available to the public.
The judgment follows a Freedom of Information (FoI) suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2021) filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Justice Olotu dismissed any notion that the report should remain classified. In her ruling, she held that the audit report and the list of indicted persons clearly fall within the definition of “public records” under Section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act.
“The refusal of the president and the Attorney General to publish the audit report or act on the allegations therein, despite formal demand by SERAP, constitutes a breach of their statutory duties under the Freedom of Information Act, Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and Nigeria’s international obligations to promote transparency and accountability,” Justice Olotu declared.
The court further ruled that the information regarding the management of public funds is not exempted under Sections 11-19 of the FoI Act.
Justice Olotu emphasised that the Act imposes a “clear, non-discretionary duty” on the President to make the report public.
Following the receipt of the certified true copy of the judgment last Friday, Femi Falana, described the ruling as one of the most patriotic public interest litigations in Nigeria’s history.
“The Tinubu administration must now demonstrate real commitment to transparency and accountability by immediately publishing the NDDC forensic audit report and the names of those indicted, as ordered by the court,” Falana stated.
“Those suspected to be responsible should be brought to justice and the proceeds of corruption fully recovered.”
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, hailed the judgment as a victory for accountability regarding the missing N6 trillion.
In a letter dated November 22, 2025, addressed to Tinubu, SERAP urged him to demonstrate his commitment to the rule of law by obeying the judgment.
“SERAP trusts that you will see compliance with this judgment as a central aspect of the rule of law; an essential stepping stone to constructing a basic institutional framework for legality and constitutionality,” the letter read.
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SERAP filed the suit in November 2021, arguing that the alleged theft of N6 trillion and the abandonment of over 13,000 projects had severely impacted the human rights of Nigerians in the Niger Delta, undermining access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and electricity.
The court’s order now places the responsibility on the Federal Government to break the silence surrounding the forensic audit and address the systemic corruption that has plagued the NDDC for two decades.
