Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over failure to probe the allegations that lawmakers pay up to N3 million to sponsor or present bills, motions and petitions at the National Assembly.
Akpabio and Abbas were sued for themselves and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly. SERAP’s suit followed recent allegations by All Progressives Congress (APC) member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa, Ibrahim Auyo, in a viral video recorded in Hausa that members of the National Assembly pay between N1 million and N3 million each to sponsor or present bills, motions and petitions at the National Assembly.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2214/2025 filed at the weekend, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct the duo to refer to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution of the allegations of N3 million Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly.
The organisation is also seeking an order of mandamus to compel Akpabio and Abbas to take all necessary measures to protect the whistle-blower, Auyo, who raised the dust.
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that the bribery allegation was a grave violation of the public trust and the constitutional oath of office by lawmakers.
According to SERAP, lawmakers should not give bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly. It is also arguing that the allegations of quid pro quo for lawmaking seriously undermined Nigerians’ democratic rights, making a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under Section 4 of the Constitution.
In the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, the group stated that the allegations exposed how lawmakers were abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians their constitutional and democratic rights.
Directing and compelling the duo to ensure the proper investigation of the allegation, SERAP said, would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.
“Auyo is a whistleblower who is protected under Article 33 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. He is a whistle-blower because of his public interest disclosures on the alleged N3 million Bribe-for-Bills at the National Assembly.
“Ending the persistent allegations of corruption in the National Assembly and the prevailing culture of impunity of perpetrators is a matter of the rule of law and public interest,” the body stated. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
