By Stephen Simon
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has dragged the Nigerian Senate before the Federal High Court in Abuja over its failure to release a report on alleged financial discrepancies amounting to more than N210 trillion in the audited accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited between 2017 and 2023.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/783/2026, Falana is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the Senate to disclose the report of its Committee on Public Accounts, as well as all related documents, to him and the Nigerian public.
The suit, filed pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2010 and the provisions of the Federal High Court Rules on judicial review, follows an earlier request made by Falana for access to the committee’s findings on the alleged discrepancies uncovered during its review of NNPCL’s audited financial statements.
According to court documents, the Senate Public Accounts Committee reportedly queried transactions and accounting entries valued at approximately N210 trillion, describing several of them as “unexplained” and “unsubstantiated.” The committee subsequently invited current and former officials of the national oil company, including former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, to provide clarifications and supporting records.
Falana stated that he formally requested access to the report through a letter dated March 13, 2026, which was delivered to the office of the Clerk of the Senate on March 16. He argued that despite acknowledging receipt of the request, the Senate neither provided the information sought nor offered any lawful reason for withholding it.
The senior lawyer contended that the Senate’s refusal to release the report violates the Freedom of Information Act and infringes on the constitutional right of Nigerians to receive information on matters of public interest.
He maintained that Section 1(1) of the FOIA grants every person the right to access information held by public institutions, while Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the freedom to receive and impart information without interference.
Falana further argued that transparency and accountability in the management of public resources are essential components of democratic governance and that public institutions cannot lawfully suppress information of significant public importance except where specific exemptions provided by law apply.
The suit also relies on judicial precedents, including Fawehinmi v. Inspector-General of Police and Shitta-Bey v. Federal Public Service Commission, which affirm the powers of courts to compel public authorities to perform statutory duties where they have failed or refused to do so.
According to the applicant, withholding information relating to what has been described as one of the largest alleged financial discrepancies ever identified in a public institution undermines public accountability and denies Nigerians the opportunity to scrutinise the management of national resources.
Falana is therefore asking the court to declare the Senate’s refusal unlawful and contrary to the Freedom of Information Act, and to issue an order compelling the upper legislative chamber to immediately release the report and related information.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
