Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: SERAp

  • SERAP takes subsidy-savings fight to court, demands project-by-project disclosure

    SERAP takes subsidy-savings fight to court, demands project-by-project disclosure

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    According to Punch, SERAP has sued state governments and named officials over the handling of fuel-subsidy savings, arguing that the public deserves full disclosure of what was received and which projects were funded.

    The group’s case is built around traceability: if subsidy removal was justified partly as freeing funds for development, then spending should be linked to locations, contractors and outcomes.

    A separate report also framed the case as an attempt to compel disclosure and accountability around subsidy-era windfalls at subnational level.

    The suit matters because it could expand expectations of fiscal transparency from Abuja to the states, especially around pooled or shared national savings.

    Punch reported SERAP is asking the court to force disclosure of how subsidy savings were spent, while another report described the suit as a bid to compel “accountability and transparency” over the funds.

    Echotitbits take: If courts entertain the suit, governors may face new documentation pressure. Watch for whether the case triggers pre-emptive publication of state-level scorecards—projects, costs and completion status.

    Source: THISDAYLIVE — https://newsdiaryonline.com/serap-sues-governors-wike-over-failure-to-account-for-n14trn-fuel-subsidy-savings/ — December 29, 2025

    THISDAYLIVE 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: THISDAYLIVE

  • Presidency dismisses calls to pause new tax reforms as political backlash grows

    Presidency dismisses calls to pause new tax reforms as political backlash grows

    Photo Credit: The Punch

    2025-12-18 05:55:00

    Reporting by The Punch indicates the Presidency has rejected demands to suspend Nigeria’s newly signed tax reform laws, insisting implementation will proceed from January 1, 2026.

    Officials argue the reforms are meant to simplify compliance, reduce overlapping taxes, and modernise revenue collection. Critics, however, warn the changes could worsen hardship if rollout is rushed or unclear.

    The debate has intensified amid claims by some lawmakers that the gazetted copies differ from what the National Assembly approved—an allegation that could raise legal questions and slow compliance.

    Premium Times reported Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced an ad hoc committee, stating, “I’m happy to announce to you that the following members have been appointed to the committee.” Vanguard also quoted a lawmaker complaining, “I was here, I gave my vote and it was counted, and I am seeing something completely different.”

    Echotitbits take:
    The policy risk is less about headlines and more about trust: investors and taxpayers need certainty on the final text. Watch for certified copies, a clear implementation guide, and whether the legislature confirms (or disputes) the gazetted versions before take-off.

    Source: The Punch — December 18, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fresh-storm-brews-over-new-tax-law/)
    The Punch 2025-12-18

  • SERAP threatens legal action over ₦6tn NDDC judgment and transparency demands

    SERAP threatens legal action over ₦6tn NDDC judgment and transparency demands

    2025-12-14 13:23:00

    According to The Punch, SERAP says it may sue the Attorney-General of the Federation over issues linked to a reported ₦6tn judgment involving the NDDC and broader accountability concerns.

    The group’s stance, as reported, focuses on transparency demands and what it argues should be the public’s right to clarity on large judgment-related liabilities.

    Such legal threats can trigger official responses, document releases, or court filings that shed more light on how liabilities are incurred and handled.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If litigation proceeds, the most important developments will be court filings and verified documents—not social media summaries. Watch for statements from the AGF’s office, NDDC, and any court timetable that could force disclosures.

    Source: The Punch — December 14, 2025 — https://www.worldstagenews.com/serap-threatens-contempt-to-sue-agf-fagbemi-over-failure-to-enforce-judgment-on-alleged-n6tn-nddc-scandal/

    Photo credit: WorldStage

    WorldStage https://www.worldstagenews.com/serap-threatens-contempt-to-sue-agf-fagbemi-over-failure-to-enforce-judgment-on-alleged-n6tn-nddc-scandal/ December 14, 2025

  • Advocacy Group Threatens NBC with Lawsuit Over “Illegal” Sanction of Arise, AIT, Channels TVs

    Advocacy Group Threatens NBC with Lawsuit Over “Illegal” Sanction of Arise, AIT, Channels TVs

    A legal and advocacy group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to sue the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over sanctions imposed on three national television station, AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV for airing images attributed to the alleged Lekki Shooting of unarmed #EndSARS protesters.

    In a swift reaction to the sanctions by the regulatory body, NBC on Monday, SERAP in a statement said it condemned the action, which it described as illegal fines.

    “We condemn the illegal fines of N9m reportedly imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on Channels TV, AIT and Arise TV [N3m each] over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests. We’ll sue the NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours.

    “This action by the NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. The NBC should drop the fines and uphold Nigerian constitution and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.

    “The fines are detrimental to freedom of expression and the media, and access to information in Nigeria, and the NBC must withdraw the decision”, SERAP stated.

    SERAP in its reaction to NBC’s sanction affirmed that media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression and access to information.

    It said: ‘”The ability to practice journalism free from undue interference, to cover peaceful protests, and critical views are crucial to the exercise of many other rights and freedoms.

    “The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role.

    “The NBC should stop targeting and intimidating independent media and voices”, SERAP ordered.

    Recall that on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, hours before the alleged shooting of unarmed peaceful protesters, an incident the Nigerian army has denied, the NBC had issued a press statement containing guidelines on how broadcast media firms in Nigeria should cover the #EndSARS protest, with specific instructions not to embarrass the government.

    However, Nigerians have began to kick against the sanctions on AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV. Minutes after the announcement of the sanction by NBC, some Nigerians took to twitter to Twitter to vent their anger, describing the fine as illegal and an attempt to gag the media even when the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of speech.

     

    By Tobiloba Kolawole

     

  • SERAP condemns Buhari, demands end to criminalising peaceful protesters in Nigeria

    SERAP condemns Buhari, demands end to criminalising peaceful protesters in Nigeria

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Wednesday strongly condemned reported violent attacks on #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja, Osogbo and other parts of the country.

    SERAP tasked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to put an end to the “use of excessive force against protesters, and allow people to peacefully exercise their human rights.”

    Department of State Services (DSS) had Wednesday reportedly arrested Olawale Bakare and six other #RevolutionNow protesters wearing orange-coloured caps around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Osun State capital.

     

    Several protesters were also allegedly arrested by the police and the Nigerian Army in Abuja.

    Reacting to this development, SERAP, in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “By failing to adequately protect protesters from violent attacks, Nigerian authorities have blatantly violated their obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”

    The statement added: “Nobody should be arrested or subjected to torture and ill-treatment simply for taking part in peaceful protests. The authorities should stop criminalising peaceful protesters.

    “Rather than suppressing peaceful protests, the authorities ought to protect peaceful protesters and ensure a safe and enabling environment for people to exercise their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

    “SERAP urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested, promptly investigate attacks on protesters, and identify security agents suspected to be responsible and bring them to justice.

    “Nigerian authorities need to take seriously the protesters’ socio-economic grievances, including by immediately taking measures to genuinely fight grand corruption, and improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services.

    “SERAP urges the international community including the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to publicly condemn attacks on peaceful protests and to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to effectively investigate attacks on protesters, prosecute perpetrators and to respect and protect the human rights of everyone.

    “Nigerian constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party guarantee the rights to liberty and security of person, freedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, and the right of peaceful assembly.

    “The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials prohibit the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters.”

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • EFCC boss, Magu suspended over fraud allegation, SERAP fears powerplay

    EFCC boss, Magu suspended over fraud allegation, SERAP fears powerplay

    The embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has been suspended by the Presidency pending when a decision will be taken on him.

    The anti corruption agency chief was arrested on Monday by a combined team of Department of State Services personnel and policemen at the Wuse II office of the EFCC to face an interagency committee investigating corruption allegations against him.

    Echotitbits reported earlier Tuesday morning how the fate of the embattled EFCC Chairman-Magu hangs in balance

    He was detained at the FCID in Area 10, Abuja, on Monday night on the orders of the committee that also questioned him on Tuesday morning.

    Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed “concerns about reports that the apparently arbitrary arrest of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, may be ‘the outcome of power-play’ at the highest levels of government.”

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of the agency, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The reported statement by a member of PACAC seems to suggest that Magu’s arrest may be politically motivated and aim to undermine the independence and freedom of action of the EFCC. If true, this would make a mockery of Buhari’s oft-repeated commitment to fight grand corruption and the impunity of perpetrators, which is fuelling widespread and systemic corruption in the country.”

    Oluwadare, therefore, urged the authorities to afford Magu his constitutionally and internationally guaranteed fair trial rights.

    “Magu must either be charged with a recognizable criminal offence or released immediately and allowed to do his job without fear of reprisals,” the statement read in part.

    “Nigerian authorities cannot continue to keep Magu in detention under suspicious circumstances without bringing any legitimate charges against him in violation of national and international law.

    “Nigerian authorities must support the independence and freedom of action of anti-corruption agencies and institutions if they are to be able to genuinely fight grand corruption, which has for many years turned public service for many into a kind of criminal enterprise.”

    “Nigerian authorities should focus on addressing the impact of corruption such as political violence, and denial of access for millions of Nigerians to even the most basic health and education services, as well as other patterns of human rights violations.

    “Improving the independence of anti-corruption agencies and institutions is the most promising way to make tangible progress in the fight against corruption now and in the near future.

    “Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party guarantee to everyone the right to liberty and security of person, and that no one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.

    “Similarly, Section 35(1) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) guarantees to every person the right to personal liberty and that no person should be arbitrarily deprived of such liberty.”