APC Administration, Femi Falana Sues Senate As Senate Failed To Release Report On Alleged N210 Trillion NNPC Financial Discrepancies
In an attempt to force the Nigerian Senate to reveal the report of its Committee on Public Accounts regarding purported financial irregularities totaling more than N210 trillion in the audited financial statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) covering the years 2017 to 2023, renowned human rights attorney Femi Falana, SAN, filed a lawsuit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The lawsuit, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/783/2026, requests a writ of mandamus under the Freedom of Information Act 2010 to compel the Senate to reveal the Public Accounts Committee’s report, which purportedly found over ₦210 trillion in unexplained entries in NNPCL’s audited financial statements from 2017 to 2023.
A number of “unexplained” or “unsubstantiated” transactions were questioned by the Senate committee, according to filings, and both current and former NNPCL officials—including former Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari—were called in to provide explanations.
Falana had previously asked for access to the report on March 13, 2026, but according to Falana, the Senate acknowledged receiving the request on March 16 without making the document public or offering a rationale.
He contends that Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which protects the right to access information, and the Freedom of Information Act are both violated by the denial.
He further argues that without a valid exemption, public institutions are not allowed to withhold information of substantial public interest.
Additionally, the lawsuit is based on well-established legal precedents that give judges the authority to issue mandamus orders requiring public entities to carry out their statutory obligations.
According to Falana, the report’s ongoing secrecy compromises accountability, transparency, and Nigerians’ right to know how public resources are handled.
In the interest of public accountability, the court is being asked to order the Senate to make the report and associated documents public.
