Court Orders Tinubu to Release Names of Suspects in Alleged N6 Trillion NDDC Scandal
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a far-reaching ruling compelling President Bola Tinubu to ensure the public disclosure of individuals implicated in the alleged diversion of more than N6 trillion earmarked for 13,777 abandoned projects and other expenditures of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2000 and 2019.
Justice Gladys Olotu delivered the judgment on November 10, 2025, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The certified copy of the judgment was made available last Friday. In her ruling, Justice Olotu directed the president to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation to publish the names of all persons indicted in the NDDC’s forensic audit, which was submitted to the Federal Government on September 2, 2021.
She further ordered that the full audit report be released to the public without delay.
According to Justice Olotu, the FOI Act places a mandatory duty on public institutions to provide citizens with access to financial and administrative information.
She explained that the president had an obligation—reinforced by law—to disclose the audit findings and identities of those implicated.
She stated: “Section 2(3) of the Freedom of Information Act compels every public institution to publish specified categories of information, including details of finances and expenditures.
“The president has a clear, non-discretionary duty to release the NDDC forensic audit report and publish the names of individuals indicted.”
The judge added that for a court to issue an order of mandamus, the applicant—in this case SERAP—must demonstrate an undeniable right to the information requested and show that the responsible authorities failed to comply after a formal demand.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the ruling as a major step toward bolstering public confidence in the fight against corruption.
“This landmark decision is a significant victory for Nigerians seeking transparency in the use of public resources,” he said. “It underscores the urgent need for the government to act decisively regarding the missing N6 trillion intended for development in the Niger Delta.”
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also welcomed the verdict, calling it one of the most impactful public interest cases in Nigeria’s recent history. He urged the Tinubu administration to comply immediately. “This judgment reaffirms the public’s right to know how N6 trillion in oil revenue was handled.
The government must now show genuine commitment to transparency by publishing the audit report and the names of those found culpable,” Falana stated. “Delays in enforcing this ruling would weaken the fight against corruption and erode respect for the rule of law.”
In a letter dated November 22, 2025, SERAP urged President Tinubu to uphold his administration’s pledge to strengthen governance and transparency by swiftly implementing the court’s directives.
The organisation called on the president to break with past practices by ensuring full disclosure of those implicated in the alleged mismanagement and by releasing the complete audit findings.
“Compliance with this judgment is essential to reinforcing the rule of law and building institutions rooted in accountability,” SERAP wrote, expressing confidence that the president would act promptly. The Tinubu administration has yet to issue an official response to the ruling.
