Probe ₦94.4bn allegedly diverted, unremitted oil funds, SERAP tells Tinubu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), Abuja and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to urgently account for over ₦94.4 billion in public funds reportedly diverted, unremitted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent.”

The grave allegations are documented in the 2024 (Volume 2) Annual Report published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on 7 August 2026. According to the Auditor-General, the findings in the report variously covered periods between January and December 2023 and ending on 31 December 2024.

SERAP urged the President “to direct the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate over ₦94.4 billion in public funds reportedly diverted, unremitted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent, and ensure the prosecution of anyone responsible where sufficient admissible evidence is established, as well as the recovery and remittance of all the affected public funds.”

SERAP also urged him “to direct the MDGIF to submit and publish its audited financial statements for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and ensure that they are promptly forwarded to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, as recommended by the Auditor-General.”

In the letter dated 3 October 2026 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Anyone found responsible should be appropriately sanctioned and prosecuted where sufficient admissible evidence is established, irrespective of status, position or institutional affiliation.”

SERAP said, “Every naira identified in the Auditor-General’s report must be properly accounted for, and any oil funds found to have been diverted, misapplied, improperly spent or otherwise unaccounted for must be fully recovered and remitted to the Treasury.”

The letter, read in part: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave findings. The findings raise fundamental questions about the integrity, transparency and effectiveness of the management of Nigeria’s petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties, involving billions of naira in public funds.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions and other lawful measures to compel your government, the MDGIF, NUPRC and other relevant authorities to comply with our requests in the public interest.”

“The MDGIF and NUPRC should be directed to publish a clear schedule showing the amounts due, collected, remitted and recovered, the dates of the transactions, the institutions or officials responsible and the accounts into which the funds were paid.”

“These findings concern petroleum-sector institutions and revenues over which the President, as Minister of Petroleum Resources, has a particular responsibility to ensure effective oversight, transparency and accountability.”

“The President’s dual role makes it especially important that the Auditor-General’s findings concerning billions of naira in petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties are promptly investigated and that all public funds found to have been improperly withheld, diverted, misapplied or otherwise unaccounted for are recovered.”

“The MDGIF ‘failed to remit ₦26.549 billion (₦26,549,415,244.48) in revenue from the sale of petroleum products between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024.’ The Auditor-General expressed concern that ‘the money may have been diverted’, and recommended its recovery and remittance to the Treasury.”

“The MDGIF also ‘failed to remit and report ₦12.480 billion (₦12,479,683,553.87) in gas-flaring penalties for 2023.’ The Auditor-General raised concerns about the failure to collect and promptly remit the net revenue generated by NUPRC from gas flaring into the MDGIF Account, as required by section 52(8) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.”

“The Auditor-General is concerned that ‘the failure to remit gas-flaring penalties creates risks of shortages of funds for environmental remediation and potential civil crisis arising from the non-remediation of environmental hazards.’”

“The MDGIF also ‘engaged and paid a consultant ₦3.518 billion (₦3,517,519,272.95) to recover gas-flaring penalties without the approval of the President.’ According to the Auditor-General, ‘there was no evidence of due process or due diligence in the engagement.’ The Auditor-General expressed concern that the money may have been ‘diverted.’”

“NUPRC reportedly ‘failed to remit ₦38.610 billion (₦38,610,104,671.31) in gas-flaring penalties collected and due to the MDGIF. The Auditor-General expressed concerns about the ‘risks of shortages of funds for environmental remediation and civil crisis arising from the non-remediation of environmental hazards.’”

“The MDGIF also ‘failed to collect and account for ₦12.940 billion (₦12,940,311,072.81) in revenue from 2024 sales of natural gas.’ The Auditor-General expressed concern that the money may have been ‘diverted’, and recommended its recovery and remittance to the Treasury.”

“The MDGIF reportedly spent ₦261.852 million (₦261,851,719.18) to engage Transaction Advisors, but the Auditor-General found no evidence of job execution by the Transaction Advisors and expressed concern that the money may have been ‘diverted.’”

“The MDGIF also spent ₦65.8 million (₦65,800,000.00) to engage Transaction Advisors in August 2024 without due process. The Auditor-General stated that the action ‘may have violated public procurement procedures’ and recommended that the Executive Director of the MDGIF account for the expenditure.”

“The failure to properly account for billions of naira in petroleum-product revenues, natural-gas sales revenues and gas-flaring penalties undermines public confidence in the management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources and creates a serious risk that public funds intended for lawful public purposes, including environmental remediation, may have been lost, misapplied or improperly withheld.”

“The failure to remit billions of naira in revenues and gas-flaring penalties, the absence of supporting documentation for several expenditures, payments without evidence of work performed, and procurement and consultancy arrangements without the required approvals or due process also raise serious concerns about the adequacy of existing safeguards over public funds.”

“The audit findings reveal repeated failures of basic financial and administrative controls, including the failure to remit and account for public revenues, inadequate documentation, payments without evidence of work performed, procurement and consultancy arrangements without required approvals or due process, and failures to submit and publish audited financial statements.”

“Transparent investigation and accountability are especially important where the public funds concerned include petroleum revenues and gas-flaring penalties that should be available for lawful public purposes, including environmental remediation and the protection of affected communities.”

“The failure to submit and publish audited financial statements for three consecutive financial years also undermines effective legislative oversight and public scrutiny of the financial management of the MDGIF.”

“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) imposes a responsibility on government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution. Section 15(5) requires the State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 14 further provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

“Nigeria is also a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which require effective measures to prevent, investigate and sanction corruption and promote accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.”

“Article 9 of the UN Convention requires appropriate systems of public procurement and public finances founded on transparency, competition and objective criteria. Article 10 requires measures to enhance transparency in public administration, including access to information. Article 13 recognises the role of civil society and public participation in preventing and combating corruption.”

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