The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in the Federal High Court of Lagos.
This action is in response to their alleged unjust scheme to allocate N40 billion for the purchase of 465 luxury and bulletproof vehicles for members and top officials, as well as N70 billion designated as ‘palliatives’ for new members.
This lawsuit follows remarks made by Akpabio, who revealed that holiday allowances were deposited into senators’ bank accounts, even as some Nigerians continue to grapple with severe poverty.
In the filed suit, identified as number FHC/L/CS/1606/2023 and submitted last Friday, SERAP seeks an order of mandamus to compel Akpabio and Abbas to review and minimize the expenditures.
Additionally, the organization aims to prevent Akpabio and Abbas from receiving the funds until a comprehensive assessment of the financial impact on the 137 million impoverished Nigerians is conducted in the public’s interest.
SERAP is also pursuing an order of mandamus to require Akpabio and Abbas to amend the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2022, reducing the National Assembly’s budget by N110 billion to align with the current economic circumstances in the country.
The organization contends that if these requests are not granted, lawmakers would continue to allocate and spend the N110 billion, thereby perpetuating a situation rife with conflicts of interest and self-serving actions.
SERAP underscores the ethical violation committed by National Assembly members, who have increased their budget and utilized it to enhance their personal lifestyles.
According to SERAP, while N70 billion is designated as ‘support allowance’ for 306 new legislators, only N500 billion is allocated for 12 million impoverished Nigerians as palliatives.
Furthermore, N40 billion is designated to procure 465 SUVs and bulletproof vehicles for members and top officials.
The lawsuit, represented by SERAP’s legal representatives, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms.
Blessing Ogwuche, argues that the proposed N110 billion expenditure represents a fundamental violation of both constitutional and international human rights obligations.
Currently, no specific date has been set for the hearing of this lawsuit.
