The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an immediate criminal investigation into the alleged diversion of over N34.53 trillion in public revenue, following revelations by the World Bank that the funds were deducted through “first-line charges” before reaching the Federation Account between 2023 and 2025.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group described the disclosure as evidence of a “shadow government financial system” operating outside constitutional accountability and legislative oversight.
HURIWA said the World Bank’s findings confirmed long-standing fears that politically connected institutions and government agencies were appropriating public funds through opaque fiscal arrangements beyond public scrutiny.
According to the group, the alleged diversion comes at a time Nigerians are facing severe economic hardship, rising inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and deteriorating public services.
The association noted that the World Bank reportedly stated that about 41 per cent of federation revenue never reached the Federation Account because it was retained through first-line charges by government agencies operating under questionable statutory arrangements.
HURIWA alleged that agencies implicated in the controversy include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigeria Customs Service, among other major revenue-generating institutions.
The group further argued that the revelations amounted to a direct threat to constitutional democracy, fiscal accountability and public trust, accusing the National Assembly of failing in its oversight responsibilities.
According to HURIWA, the silence of lawmakers over the alleged off-budget spending system suggested institutional compromise and political capture.
The association also challenged anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Nigeria Police Force, to immediately launch investigations into the allegations.
HURIWA warned that failure by the agencies to act would undermine their credibility and reinforce public perceptions that anti-corruption institutions were unwilling to confront high-level corruption.
The group demanded the establishment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry, a forensic audit of major revenue-generating agencies, emergency public hearings by the National Assembly, and full disclosure of all beneficiaries and expenditure records linked to the deductions.
It also called for the suspension and prosecution of any public officials found to have violated constitutional appropriation procedures or abused revenue-retention provisions.
HURIWA urged civil society groups, labour unions, students, professional associations and pro-democracy organisations to demand accountability and defend constitutional governance.
The association further threatened democratic recall actions against lawmakers allegedly shielding executive misconduct and institutional corruption through silence.
HURIWA gave the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the leadership of the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies until noon on Friday to publicly announce concrete investigative and accountability measures regarding the matter.
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