SERAP sues Akpabio, Abbas over alleged unlawful allowances, lack of transparency

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, accusing the National Assembly of engaging in unlawful practices regarding the fixing of allowances and running costs.

The lawsuit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1289/2024, seeks to compel the leaders of Nigeria’s legislative chambers to end these practices and to provide full disclosure of the amounts paid to lawmakers.

SERAP’s legal action targets both Akpabio and Abbas individually and collectively on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.

The organization argues that the lawmakers have violated constitutional provisions by determining their own salaries and allowances, a responsibility that legally falls under the purview of the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently brought attention to this issue, alleging that members of the National Assembly have been fixing their own salaries and allowances, bypassing the recommendations of the RMAFC.

SERAP’s lawsuit echoes these concerns, emphasizing that this practice contravenes the Nigerian Constitution and Federal Government Financial Regulations.

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In the lawsuit, SERAP seeks a court order mandating Akpabio and Abbas to halt the ongoing practice of self-determined remuneration and to disclose the exact amount of monthly running costs received by each lawmaker.

Additionally, SERAP demands that these payments, currently made directly into the personal accounts of lawmakers, be ceased immediately, citing Rule 713 of the Federal Government Financial Regulations, which prohibits the payment of public funds into private bank accounts.

SERAP argues that the alleged actions of the lawmakers represent a significant breach of public trust, as their constitutional oath of office requires them to act transparently and in the public interest.

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The organization also points out that the UN Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a signatory, imposes obligations on public officials to promote integrity and accountability in the management of public resources.

Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo, and Ms. Blessing Ogwuche, the lawyers representing SERAP, stated that the lawsuit aims to build public trust in democratic institutions by ensuring that lawmakers are held accountable for the funds they receive.

The organization is also seeking a court order compelling the lawmakers to return any misused or mismanaged funds and to refer any credible evidence of corruption to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.

In support of its claims, SERAP highlighted recent revelations by Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South Senatorial District, who disclosed in an interview with BBC Hausa that each Nigerian senator receives approximately N21 million monthly in running costs, salaries, and allowances.

This figure, according to Senator Sumaila, far exceeds the official monthly salary of less than N1 million.

No date has yet been set for the hearing of the case.