SERAP asks Tinubu to probe alleged ₦26.9bn USPF fraud

Crime Diary, Investigation

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct relevant authorities to investigate the alleged disappearance and diversion of ₦26.9 billion from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF).

The organisation specifically called on the President to mandate the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, and the Secretary of the USPF, Yomi Arowosafe, to account for the funds.

SERAP also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as anti-corruption agencies, to launch a prompt and effective investigation into the allegations.

The group said any individual found culpable should face prosecution where sufficient evidence exists, while all missing or diverted funds should be recovered and returned to the treasury.

The allegations are contained in the 2022 audited report published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on September 9, 2025.

In a letter dated May 9, 2026 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation described the USPF as critical to expanding telecommunications access in underserved and rural communities.

“The USPF is vital to expanding telecommunications access in underserved and rural communities, and any diversion of its funds directly undermines its mandate to bridge the digital divide, support infrastructure development and promote inclusive connectivity,” the letter stated.

SERAP said the allegations, which include unaccounted expenditures, irregular contract awards, failure to remit public funds and payments for services not rendered, raised serious concerns about financial accountability within the agency.

According to the organisation, failure to investigate the allegations and recover the funds would undermine efforts to achieve digital inclusion and deprive Nigerians of essential services.

The group warned that poor access to affordable internet connectivity continued to affect citizens’ ability to exercise fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, access to information, education and participation in public affairs.

SERAP further argued that inadequate connectivity was widening socio-economic inequality by excluding millions of Nigerians from economic opportunities, financial services, healthcare information and civic participation.

Among the allegations cited from the Auditor-General’s report was the failure of the USPF to remit more than ₦13.8 billion, described as annual operating surplus between 2016 and 2019.

The report also alleged that the agency claimed to have spent over ₦11.7 million on international trainings during the COVID-19 lockdown period without supporting documents, while more than ₦2.8 billion in contracts were allegedly awarded without approval or procurement records.

The Auditor-General further queried alleged payments of ₦8 million to a non-existent fund manager, over ₦6.4 billion spent on projects not captured in the approved 2020 budget, and another ₦2.8 billion allegedly spent without documentation between January and May 2021.

Additional allegations include failure to remit more than ₦300 million in stamp duties, failure to deduct over ₦144 million in withholding tax, and payment of over ₦391 million to consultants without evidence of work done.

SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its recommendations, warning that it could initiate legal proceedings in the public interest if no action was taken.

The organisation also cited constitutional provisions and international anti-corruption conventions, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, as the legal basis for its demands.