Odita Sunday 
N16.6bn SEDC Spending Under Fire as HURIWA Demands EFCC Probe, Board Shake-Up
By Odita Sunday
Fresh concerns over the management of billions of naira earmarked for the development of Nigeria’s South-East region have emerged as the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called for a full-scale investigation into the financial activities of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), citing allegations of questionable expenditures uncovered during a Senate probe.
The rights advocacy group specifically urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch an immediate forensic investigation into the utilisation of over N16.6 billion reportedly released to the Commission from the 2025 budget allocation, warning that any proven case of financial misconduct must attract arrests and prosecution.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA commended the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, for what it described as a courageous and constitutionally mandated oversight exercise into the Commission’s financial operations.
The association said revelations emerging from the Senate investigative hearing had raised serious concerns about accountability and transparency in the management of public funds intended for the development of the South-East.
Among the allegations highlighted during the hearing, HURIWA pointed to claims that the Commission expended N153 million on the rent of a one-room liaison office in Abuja, while another N2.5 billion was reportedly listed under what was described as “implied expenditure.”
According to the group, such allegations, if established through independent investigation, would amount to a grave abuse of public trust, particularly at a time when many communities across the South-East continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, insecurity, poor healthcare services and economic hardship.
“The Nigerian people are entitled to know how every kobo appropriated for regional development is spent,” HURIWA stated, stressing that public institutions established to drive development must operate under the highest standards of accountability.
The group argued that while the Senate Committee had discharged its constitutional duty by exposing perceived discrepancies and demanding explanations, anti-corruption agencies must now take over by conducting criminal and forensic investigations where necessary.
HURIWA therefore called on the EFCC to invite the Managing Director and relevant management officials of the South East Development Commission for questioning and detailed scrutiny of expenditures made from the Commission’s allocation.
It maintained that should investigations uncover evidence of financial misconduct, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, procurement violations or abuse of office, those responsible must face the full weight of the law.
The association noted that the South East Development Commission was created to address decades of developmental challenges and infrastructure deficits in the region and should not become a platform for alleged wasteful spending.
Expressing concern over the controversy, HURIWA said the allegations risk undermining public confidence in the relatively new intervention agency and its ability to deliver on its mandate.
The group contrasted the situation with the performance of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), which it said has executed numerous projects over the years, including roads, schools, hospitals, housing developments and water infrastructure across the North-East region.
According to HURIWA, the South East Development Commission was expected to build on similar developmental models and deliver visible improvements in the lives of citizens across the region.
The association further argued that the allegations have raised questions about the effectiveness of the Commission’s current leadership structure and governance framework.
Consequently, it called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other relevant authorities to urgently review the governance architecture of the Commission and consider reconstituting its governing board in the interest of transparency, credibility and effective service delivery.
HURIWA, however, clarified that it was not accusing the leadership of the South East Development Commission of any criminal wrongdoing, noting that only a thorough investigation by competent authorities can determine the veracity of the allegations.
The group urged the Senate Committee to sustain its oversight efforts and called on civil society organisations, professional bodies and stakeholders across the South-East to closely monitor developments surrounding the matter.
“The South-East people deserve a development commission that works for the people and not for a privileged few. Every naira appropriated for development must translate into visible projects and measurable improvements in the lives of citizens,” the association stated.
HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting lawful efforts aimed at promoting transparency, fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in public institutions.
About the Author
