First Lady Sued Over ₦20bn National Library Fundraiser

A Lagos-based literary activist, Ayodele Ademiluyi, has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, and several top government officials over funds raised during Mrs Tinubu’s 65th birthday celebration for the completion of the abandoned National Library headquarters in Abuja.

Ademiluyi, who is Convener of the Ife Book and Arts Festival and Curator of the Booksfeast Collective, is challenging the legality and transparency of the fundraising drive, which the First Lady described as her “best birthday gift.”

In a video shared by her spokesperson, Bukola Kukoyi, and circulated on her social media pages, Mrs Tinubu had urged Nigerians to contribute to a special “Education Fund” instead of sending gifts such as cakes or flowers. The appeal sparked widespread criticism, with many Nigerians accusing the government of transferring its constitutional responsibilities to citizens.

Ademiluyi’s suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1900/25, was filed on behalf of himself and the Booksfeast Collective. The respondents include President Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Federal Ministry of Education, National Librarian Chinwe Veronica, the Board of the National Library of Nigeria, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Zenith Bank Plc, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Among the reliefs sought, Ademiluyi is asking the court to:

* Compel the EFCC to investigate the Zenith Bank account allegedly used for the fundraiser.

* Order Mrs Tinubu and Zenith Bank to disclose the total donations received and provide a full account of how the funds have been used.

* Direct President Tinubu to allocate at least 26% of the 2026 federal budget to education, in line with UNESCO’s recommendation, with a significant share for the National Book Development Centre under the NERDC.

The First Lady had earlier announced that more than ₦20 billion had already been raised for the library project.

As of press time, the case has not yet been assigned to a judge and no date has been set for hearing.