SERAP Sues N’Assembly Leadership over Alleged “₦3m” Pay-to-present Scheme
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to compel the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to act on allegations that some federal lawmakers pay up to ₦3 million to present bills, motions or petitions on the floor.
In the legal action, the rights group asks the court to order the National Assembly leadership to immediately refer the allegations to Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies for independent investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution and asset recovery.
SERAP also wants an order forcing the presiding officers to put in place protective measures for the lawmaker who went public with the claim, Honourable Ibrahim Auyo of Jigawa.
The case follows a viral Hausa-language video in which Mr Auyo said that since his election in 2015 he has had to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million before being allowed to sponsor or present legislative items at plenary a claim that, if proven, would amount to a fundamental breach of the public trust and the lawmakers’ constitutional oath, SERAP argues.
The organisation says the allegations erode democratic processes by turning lawmaking into a commodity rather than a public service.
SERAP’s petition prepared by a legal team led by Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo asks the court for a mandamus directing Akpabio and Abbas to take the specified steps and to disclose any individuals implicated, as well as to ensure recovery of suspected proceeds.
The suit names the two presiding officers in their official capacities and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
The organisation had previously sent an open letter to the Assembly leadership giving a short deadline for action and warning it would resort to litigation if the matter was not referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Channels Television and other outlets reported on SERAP’s demand and its call for whistleblower protection after the video surfaced.
Officials in the House have dismissed the accusation as unproven and said procedures exist for introducing bills and motions; the House spokesperson said Mr Auyo would be invited to provide evidence when the chamber reconvenes and that failure to substantiate the claim would see the matter handled through the House’s ethics process.
Meanwhile, no hearing date has yet been fixed in the Federal High Court for SERAP’s application.
The case puts new public attention on long-running concerns about transparency in the legislature and tests whether internal parliamentary mechanisms and external anti-corruption bodies will be allowed to examine allegations that strike at the heart of representative government.
