Monday, November 3, 2025 - The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to court over their alleged failure to investigate claims that lawmakers pay up to N3m to sponsor or present bills, motions, and petitions in the National Assembly.
SERAP filed the suit marked FHC/L/CS/2214/2025 at the
Federal High Court in Abuja last week, naming Akpabio and Abbas as defendants
on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
The case follows a viral video in which a Jigawa lawmaker,
Ibrahim Auyo, alleged that lawmakers pay between N1m and N3m to have their
bills or motions introduced.
In the suit, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus
compelling Akpabio and Abbas to refer the allegations to appropriate
anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.
The group is also asking the court to compel both presiding
officers to take steps to protect Auyo as a whistleblower.
“The allegations of N3m Bribe-for-Bills at the National
Assembly are a grave violation of public trust and the constitutional oath of
office by lawmakers,” SERAP argued. “Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to
present motions and bills. Bribery should never have any influence in the
exercise of legislative duties or the running of the National Assembly.”
The organisation said the alleged “quid pro quo” arrangement
for lawmaking had seriously undermined Nigerians’ democratic rights and mocked
the legislative powers granted under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended).
According to SERAP, the alleged bribery “amounts to
fundamental breaches of the Nigerian Constitution, the country’s
anti-corruption laws, and international obligations under the UN Convention
against Corruption.”
The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP by Kolawole Oluwadare,
Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, also stated that compelling Akpabio and
Abbas to ensure an independent investigation “would build public trust in
democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.”
“The National Assembly ought to be an accountable
legislative body that protects the public interest and ensures transparency in
cases of corruption, including the alleged N3m Bribe-for-Bills,” SERAP said.
The group described Auyo as a whistleblower protected under
Article 33 of the UN Convention against Corruption, urging authorities to
ensure his safety following his public-interest disclosures.
SERAP maintained that ending the persistent culture of
corruption and impunity in the National Assembly was essential for
strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“Ensuring the investigation and prosecution of suspected
perpetrators would improve transparency and accountability in the National
Assembly and restore public confidence in democratic governance,” the group
said.
It added that Section 15(5) of the Constitution obliges all
public institutions, including the National Assembly, to “abolish all corrupt
practices and abuse of power.”
In his viral remarks, Hon. Auyo lamented that the process of
sponsoring motions and bills was financially prohibitive.
“Since I was elected in 2015, no one has given me a bill to
pass,” he said. “You have to pay from N1m to N3m to present it, and even after
that, you must lobby the entire 360 members of the House to support it.”
SERAP noted that similar practices might also exist in the
Senate.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the case.
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