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Sadiya Umar Farouq CategoriesHEDA News

Alleged N37bn Fraud: HEDA Commends EFCC Move Against Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for declaring former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over alleged abuse of office and diversion of public funds amounting to about N37 billion. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the organisation described the development as a significant step in the fight against corruption and a demonstration that no public official should be above accountability, regardless of status or political affiliation. The anti-corruption organisation recalled that it had earlier welcomed the court order directing the arrest of the former minister and demanded swift investigation and prosecution of all individuals implicated in the alleged fraud linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Suraju, the allegations surrounding the mismanagement of humanitarian intervention funds represent a grave betrayal of public trust, especially considering that the funds were meant for vulnerable Nigerians facing poverty, displacement, and economic hardship. “HEDA commends the EFCC for taking the bold step of declaring the former minister wanted following allegations involving the diversion of public funds meant for humanitarian purposes and her subsequent failure to appear for court summons. This action sends a strong message that accountability must prevail in public service,” the statement said. The group further urged the EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies not to relent until justice is served and all looted public funds are recovered. The organisation stressed that anti-corruption efforts must go beyond media publicity and result in diligent prosecution, asset recovery, and institutional reforms capable of preventing future abuse of public resources. HEDA also called on citizens with useful information regarding the whereabouts of the former minister to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the interest of justice and national accountability. The civil society group reiterated its longstanding position that corruption within social intervention programmes undermines national development, deepens inequality, and erodes public confidence in government institutions. HEDA urged the Federal Government to strengthen transparency mechanisms within ministries, departments, and agencies handling public welfare and intervention programmes to ensure accountability and effective service delivery.

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Gov. Adeleke CategoriesHEDA News

HEDA Commends Gov. Adeleke Over Dethronement of Apetu, Renews Call for Probe of Oluwo’s Alleged Criminal Record

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the Osun State Government for the removal of Oba Gbenga Joseph Oloyede as the Apetu of Ipetumodu, describing the action as a decisive step toward restoring integrity and accountability within Nigeria’s traditional institutions, while renewing its call for an investigation into allegations surrounding the Oluwo of Iwo. In a statement issued by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA noted that the decision of Governor Ademola Adeleke to dethrone the monarch validates the organisation’s earlier call in September 2025 for decisive action following Oba Oloyede’s conviction for a $4.4 million fraud in the United States. The civil society organization described the government’s action as a reaffirmation of the principle that no individual, regardless of status, should occupy positions of authority while burdened with proven criminal records that undermine public trust and institutional credibility. “The removal of the Apetu of Ipetumodu is a commendable demonstration of political will and respect for the sanctity of traditional institutions. It sends a strong message that integrity must remain the cornerstone of leadership, whether in formal governance or traditional authority,” the statement read. The organisation, however, stressed that the development should not be treated as an isolated corrective measure but as a catalyst for systemic reform across traditional institutions in Nigeria. HEDA called on state governments, kingmakers, and relevant traditional councils to institutionalise thorough background checks and due diligence processes before appointing individuals to royal stools. According to HEDA, traditional rulers occupy sensitive cultural and moral positions as custodians of heritage and symbols of unity, and as such, must be individuals of unquestionable character and integrity. HEDA further urged the Osun State Government to sustain the same level of accountability by acting on its earlier demand for a probe into allegations concerning the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi. The organisation recalled that it in June 2024, had previously called on Governor Adeleke to constitute an independent panel of inquiry to investigate reports alleging past criminal convictions involving the monarch, noting that the matter remains unresolved despite its seriousness and continued public concern. “While we commend the decisive action taken in the case of Ipetumodu, we reiterate our call on the Osun State Government to act with equal urgency on the allegations concerning the Oluwo of Iwo. Consistency in upholding ethical standards is essential to maintaining public confidence in traditional leadership,” the organisation stated. HEDA emphasised that selective accountability could undermine reform efforts and weaken the broader objective of restoring honour, dignity, and credibility to traditional institutions across the country. The group concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritise integrity, transparency, and the rule of law in the selection and oversight of traditional rulers, noting that the long-term stability and moral authority of these institutions depend on the character of those who occupy them.

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CategoriesHEDA Publications

Climate Adaptation Finance in Nigeria: Accountability Gaps in the Ecological Fund (HEDA Report)

Enhancing Accountability in Climate Adaptation Finance in Nigeria: Synthesis Report and Case Studies on Ecological Fund This report by HEDA Resource Centre provides a detailed analysis of climate adaptation financing in Nigeria, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability, and effective utilization of the Ecological Fund. As climate challenges continue to impact vulnerable communities across the country, the need for responsible financial management and measurable outcomes has become more urgent than ever. Drawing from field research, case studies, and policy review, the report highlights key gaps in the management of ecological funds, including issues of misallocation, weak oversight, and limited public access to information. It also showcases real-life cases that demonstrate both the challenges and opportunities in ensuring that climate adaptation resources reach the communities that need them most. Beyond identifying problems, the report offers practical recommendations for strengthening governance frameworks, improving monitoring systems, and promoting citizen engagement in tracking climate finance. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, civil society organizations, development partners, and citizens who are committed to advancing environmental justice and sustainable development in Nigeria. Download Full Report Here

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Muhammed Adoke CategoriesAnti-corruption HEDA News

No Victory for Adoke, Says HEDA as Court Dismisses Libel Suit on Technical Grounds

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court dismissing the libel suit filed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, over allegations linked to the OPL 245 case. In a statement issued and signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organization described the ruling as “no victory for Adoke,” noting that the court did not affirm the substance of the forgery allegations contained in his petition to the police. According to synchronised media reports emerging from the stable of The Cable online platform, the court dismissed the suit on the ground that Suraju was not expressly named in Adoke’s petition requesting an investigation into alleged forgery of materials used in proceedings in Milan and London. The court held that because Suraju’s name did not appear in the petition, the legal ingredients required to establish defamation were not satisfied. Reacting to the decision, HEDA stated that it welcomes the judgment, emphasising that the court did not embarrass itself by ruling that Adoke’s fantasies of forgery were truthful, even though Adoke had tried to make that argument before the Nigerian Police – despite the email having clearly emanated, as affirmed by the London Metropolitan Police, from an email account of his crony Abubakar Aliyu. The group further stressed that the ruling was based strictly on technical considerations relating to naming and identification, not on validation of the allegations. HEDA further maintained that Adoke in his Motion of Notice denied his frivolous and concocted allegations that Mr. Suraju and HEDA forged the RAI tape and the agroupproperties email. Instead, he argued that he never identified Lanre by name in the Petition to the Police, the implication presumably being that a person who is not named cannot suffer defamation and further dissociated himself from his own handwritten adoption statement with the police to the contrary. The civil organisation also challenged Adoke to publicly clarify the identity of the individual or individuals he accused in his petition. “The judgment has raised a question for Adoke: are you brave enough to come out into the open?” the statement read, urging him to state clearly who he believes was responsible for the alleged forgery. Meanwhile, contrary to the vain labour of The Cable online platform to rewrite history on the phantom charges preferred against our Chairman being withdrawn on political expediency of the London case, the fact of the matter was that of concocted charges of cybercrime hurriedly and poorly put together by “fantastically corrupt” immediate past Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, who David Cameron must have had in mind when describing Nigeria in that ignoble terms, in collaboration with a desperate Adoke and some corrupted police officers, contrary to Adoke’s forgery allegation in his petition. “The impressive defence legal team of Mr. Suraju led my Dr. Muiz Banire SAN put forward a robust defence, including the subpoena of Adoke and Malami as witness, leading to Malami and Adoke running tail in limbs to withdraw the charges.” the statement added. Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, HEDA stated that the dismissal of the suit does not alter its long-standing position on the OPL 245 transaction or its broader anti-corruption advocacy. The organisation pledged to continue defending its integrity and to pursue all lawful avenues in the public interest.

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CategoriesHEDA News

HEDA Petitions U.S. for Sanctions on Nigerians Linked to Security Funds Diversion

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the United States Government, calling for visa revocation, asset forfeiture, and global sanctions against several Nigerian individuals accused of involvement in the diversion of security and arms procurement funds. The petition, signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, was addressed to the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation. HEDA urged the U.S. Government to take action under Section 7031(c) of the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, as well as the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. According to Suraju, the alleged diversion of billions of dollars earmarked for Nigeria’s national security and arms procurement has directly contributed to widespread insecurity, terrorism, and human rights violations across Nigeria and the West African sub-region. HEDA referenced the “Dasuki-gate” arms procurement scandal and other military procurement fraud cases, arguing that the failure to equip Nigerian troops with funds approved for arms acquisition enabled the expansion of insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Suraju noted that domestic accountability efforts have been weakened by judicial technicalities, including the quashing or suspension of corruption trials on procedural and jurisdictional grounds. The organisation identified several individuals it alleged were linked to the diversion of security funds. They include former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), who was implicated in an alleged ₦22.8 billion fraud involving Nigerian Air Force funds; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, accused of benefiting from at least ₦4.6 billion traced to arms procurement funds; and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who was charged with laundering ₦6.9 billion, including funds allegedly sourced from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Others named in the petition include former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.), over the alleged diversion of ₦13.8 billion meant for military hardware; Major Generals Akerejola and Adereti, over allegations of arms procurement fund diversion; and the late Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, whose estate was linked to the alleged receipt of ₦2.1 billion from ONSA funds originally earmarked for arms procurement. While acknowledging that some of the cases resulted in acquittals, halted trials, or dropped charges, HEDA argued that such outcomes were largely based on procedural issues rather than substantive determinations on the allegations of corruption. In its petition, the organisation called on the U.S. Government to revoke visas of the listed individuals and their immediate family members, initiate asset forfeiture proceedings through international cooperation, and impose heightened financial scrutiny to prevent further laundering of diverted Nigerian security funds. “Allowing access to foreign visas and financial systems for individuals implicated in the diversion of security funds indirectly fuels insecurity in Nigeria. We are urging the U.S. Government to support transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights by ensuring that those who profit from insecurity do not find safe haven abroad.” Suraju said.

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CategoriesHEDA News

UK $9.5m Recovered: A Win for Nigeria Anti-Corruption Fight – HEDA

– CSO charges FG on accountability, prudent use of repatriate funds The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has welcomed the decision of the United Kingdom, through the Bailiwick of Jersey, to return over $9.5 million in looted funds to Nigeria, describing the development as a significant victory in the global fight against corruption and illicit financial flows. HEDA, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, noted that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK authorities and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the repatriation of the funds reinforces the growing international consensus that there should be no safe haven for proceeds of corruption, regardless of where they are hidden. “This recovery represents a clear success for sustained anti-corruption advocacy, particularly in the area of asset recovery and repatriation, which has been one of HEDA’s core campaigns over the years,” Suraju said. According to HEDA, the return of the funds traced to suspicious proceeds of corruption diverted by third-party contractors on behalf of senior Nigerian officials demonstrates the effectiveness of international cooperation, civil forfeiture mechanisms, and persistent pressure by civil society to hold corrupt actors accountable. The civil society organisation recalled that previous repatriated funds facilitated by the UK and its Crown Dependencies were reportedly deployed to critical infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge under monitoring frameworks, adding that this model should be strengthened and improved upon. “While commending the Federal Government and international partners for the recovery, we are charging the Nigerian government to ensure that the returned funds are judiciously utilised for landmark projects that deliver tangible benefits to citizens, particularly in the areas of transportation, social infrastructure, and economic productivity.” Suraju stressed. HEDA further urged the Federal Government to go beyond assurances and demonstrate full transparency, public disclosure, and independent monitoring in the utilisation of the recovered funds. Nigerians deserve to see, track, and verify how recovered assets are utilized. The civil group reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring asset recovery processes, advocating for stronger safeguards against corruption, and working with stakeholders to ensure that recovered public wealth is used to advance national development and restore public trust in governance.

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CategoriesHEDA News

 HEDA Unveils Landmark Report on Petroleum Environmental Governance in Nigeria

– CSO Charges FG on deliberate sequencing and sustained political will to drive reforms The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has unveiled a new comprehensive report on petroleum environmental governance in Nigeria, providing a detailed roadmap for legal, policy, and institutional reforms in the country’s oil and gas sector. Released with support from the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), the report titled “Nigeria’s Petroleum-Environmental Governance: Law, Policy, and Reform Roadmap”, comes four years after the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. It notes that despite the law’s promises of stronger governance, improved environmental protection, enhanced community development, and greater transparency, implementation has fallen short. Challenges such as weak enforcement, overlapping institutional mandates, poor compliance culture, and low community awareness continue to undermine the Act’s impact. HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said the report was developed to address the persistent gap between Nigeria’s extensive legal frameworks and the realities in oil-producing communities. “The continuing issues around oil spill response, gas flaring, decommissioning obligations, host community development, and beneficial ownership transparency show that regulators, operators, communities, and civil society actors still lack the tools needed to drive accountability,” he said. To address these gaps, HEDA Resource Centre with the collaboration of Environmental Law Research Institute (ELRI) developed a Stakeholder Accountability Tool and a Simplified Policy Brief. These tools outline statutory obligations under the PIA and other environmental laws, highlight key lapses in implementation, and provide practical guidance to empower communities, civil society, media, and regulators to demand compliance and promote environmental stewardship. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s petroleum environmental governance landscape, examining legal frameworks, institutional structures, and operational mechanisms meant to ensure environmental prevention, mitigation, remediation, and accountability. It draws on doctrinal research, comparative benchmarking, and stakeholder feedback generated through surveys and interviews. According to the report findings, Nigeria already possesses the foundational elements of a world-class governance system. However, these elements remain fragmented. The study further calls for clearer institutional mandates, stronger enforcement mechanisms, recalibrated penalties, better management of environmental liabilities during divestment and decommissioning, and real-time public access to petroleum-environment data, including emissions, spills, remediation progress, and host community development funding. It also recommended modernizing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regime to reflect climate realities and integrating host communities and credible civil society actors as active partners in monitoring the sector. Speaking on next steps, Suraju emphasized the need for “deliberate sequencing and sustained political will” to drive reforms. He highlighted priorities such as legislative updates, institutional integration, financial assurance systems, community oversight, capacity strengthening, and improved judicial and administrative efficiency. “With discipline, transparency, and collaboration, Nigeria can evolve from an extractive state to a responsible energy steward one that places environmental governance at the heart of sustainable prosperity,” he said. The publication reinforces HEDA’s longstanding commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and justice in Nigeria’s extractive sector. The organisation said it will continue advocating to ensure that the PIA and related governance frameworks translate into tangible benefits for citizens and frontline communities.

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CategoriesHEDA Publications

Leadership Approval Rating (LAR) – National Report Now Available

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who made the June 2025 Leadership Approval Rating (LAR) a nationwide reality. From the concept drafted by our program team to the unwavering support of the MacArthur Foundation and the tireless efforts of our volunteer network across all 36 states and the FCT, your contributions made this report possible. Special thanks to our partners, analysts, editors, and designers who turned the data into a powerful narrative. Together, we amplified 1,423 voices from across Nigeria. Thank you for being part of this journey. 📥 Download the full report here

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