Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the alleged failure to account for ₦55.9 billion reportedly meant for the procurement of election materials for the 2019 general elections.

The grave allegations are documented in the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to account for the missing or diverted N55.9 billion meant to buy smart card readers, ballot papers, and other election materials for the 2019 general elections.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel INEC to disclose the names of all contractors paid the N55.9 billion for the procurement of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets, and other election materials for the 2019 general elections, including the names of their directors and shareholders.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “INEC must operate without corruption if the commission is to ensure free and fair elections in the country and uphold Nigerians’ right to participation.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “INEC cannot ensure impartial administration of future elections if these allegations are not satisfactorily addressed, perpetrators including the contractors involved are not prosecuted and the proceeds of corruption are not fully recovered.”

According to SERAP, “INEC cannot properly carry out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to conduct free and fair elections in the country if it continues to fail to uphold the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “These allegations also constitute abuse of public office and show the urgent need by INEC to commit to transparency, accountability, clean governance and the rule of law.”

SERAP also said, “Allegations of corruption in the supply of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials directly undermine Nigerians’ right to participate in elections that are free, fair, transparent, and credible.”

The lawsuit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and international anticorruption standards.”

“According to the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘irregularly paid’ over N5.3 billion [N5,312,238,499.39] ‘to a contractor for the supply of Smart Card Readers for the 2019 general elections’.

“The contract was awarded without prior approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council. The payment was also ‘made without any document. There was no evidence of supplies to the commission.’”

Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has declared a second liquidation dividend of ₦24.3 billion for depositors of Heritage Bank Limited (in liquidation) whose account balances exceeded the statutory insured limit of ₦5 million at the time of the bank’s closure.

Heritage Bank’s operating licence was revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on June 3, 2024, after which the NDIC was appointed liquidator in line with the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and the NDIC Act 2023.

In a statement signed by Hawwau Gambo, head of the Communication and Public Affairs Department,  the Corporation said “the second liquidation dividend would be paid at a rate of 5.2 kobo per ₦1.00 on outstanding uninsured balances. This brings the total liquidation dividend paid so far to 14.4 kobo per ₦1.00.

“The NDIC has now declared a second liquidation dividend of ₦24.3 billion. This amount, derived from debt recovery, sale of physical assets, and realisation of investments, will be applied to the payment of uninsured balances for depositors with funds exceeding the ₦5 million insured limit. The second liquidation dividend is payable at a rate of 5.2 kobo per ₦1.00 on outstanding balances, in accordance with Section 72 of the NDIC Act 2023. This brings the cumulative liquidation dividend declared to date to 14.4 kobo per ₦1.00”.

The NDIC recalled that it had earlier paid a first liquidation dividend of ₦46.6 billion in April 2025, representing 9.2 kobo per ₦1.00, following the reimbursement of insured deposits of up to ₦5 million per depositor from its Deposit Insurance Fund.

According to the Corporation, the second tranche was made possible through sustained recovery of debts and continued asset disposal.

“This payment is in furtherance of our statutory responsibility to ensure that depositors of closed banks are reimbursed promptly as assets are realised,” the NDIC said.

The Corporation explained that payments would be made automatically to eligible depositors using existing records. Depositors who have already received their insured deposits and the first liquidation dividend will have their alternative bank accounts credited automatically through their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN).

However, depositors without alternative bank accounts or BVNs, as well as those who have not claimed their insured deposits or the first liquidation dividend, were advised to visit the nearest NDIC office nationwide or complete the e-claim form on the Corporation’s website for verification and processing.

The NDIC noted that liquidation dividends are paid only to depositors with balances above the insured limit and are sourced from asset sales and recoveries. Other creditors and shareholders will be considered only after all depositors have been fully reimbursed and subject to the availability of funds.

The Corporation assured the public that the ₦24.3 billion payment represents only the second liquidation dividend, adding that further payments would be made as additional assets are realised and outstanding debts recovered.

Depositors were advised to contact the NDIC Claims Resolution Department at any of its offices nationwide or through the Corporation’s official email addresses and helplines for further enquiries.

Federal government has inaugurated a ₦40 billion closed-circuit television (CCTV) control centre for the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Speaking at the inauguration on Sunday, David Umahi, minister of Works, said the project followed extensive rehabilitation works carried out on the bridge after the current administration took office in 2023.

“When we came on board in 2023, we met a very terrible Third Mainland Bridge,” Umahi said, adding that the structure, along with Carter and Iddo bridges, required comprehensive re-evaluation and repairs both above and below water level.

He said President Bola Tinubu approved the total rehabilitation of the bridge, including replacement of expansion joints, noting that the completed work had improved driving conditions and extended the bridge’s lifespan.

Umahi said the CCTV system, first announced in 2025, was designed to curb dangerous driving, prevent suicide attempts and strengthen security.

He added that security personnel would monitor live footage from the control centre and enforce speed limits on the bridge.

The minister commended the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which executed the project, for what he described as high-quality delivery. He said the contract also included a surveillance boat and two Hilux vans, which would be handed over to the police to support monitoring and rapid response.

“The idea is that we can see everything that is happening on the bridge,” Umahi said, expressing concern over excessive speeding and urging motorists to comply with traffic regulations.

Earlier, Olufemi Dare, federal controller of works in Lagos, said the facility was the first of its kind on any bridge in Nigeria.

He said the system allows real-time monitoring of activities on the bridge and surrounding waters.

Dare said the project includes 240 solar panels, 10 inverters, a 300 KVA transformer, a standby generator, multiple monitoring screens and full air-conditioning for the control centre.

He added that the contract also covers 1,268 solar-powered street lights and a borehole facility.

According to Dare, the project was awarded at a cost of ₦40.17 billion, with about ₦36 billion paid so far to the contractor. He said the current inauguration marked the first phase, with additional commissioning planned once work on the bridge’s extension is completed.

He thanked the president for approving the project and praised Umahi for ensuring due process during its execution.