The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the leaders of the National Assembly: the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The legal action challenges his alleged failure to investigate allegations that lawmakers are being forced to pay up to £3m to sponsor or introduce bills, motions and petitions.
The suit, titled FHC/L/CS/2214/2025, named Akpabio and Abbas not only in their official capacities, but also on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
SERAP’s legal action arose from recent revelations made by Ibrahim Auyo (APC, Jigawa), a member of the House of Representatives.
It may be recalled that in a viral video recorded in Hausa, Auyo alleged that members of the National Assembly must pay sums ranging between 1 million and 3 million pounds each just to sponsor or present legislative instruments.
In the suit, SERAP seeks “An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to refer them to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies for the investigation and prosecution of the allegations of ‘bribes over £3 million bills’ in the National Assembly.
“An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to take all necessary measures to protect the complainant, Honorable Ibrahim Auyo, who made the allegations of ‘bribery over £3 million invoices’ in the National Assembly.”
The human rights and anti-corruption advocacy group, through its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, argued that the National Assembly leaders’ failure to address the allegations constitutes a serious breach of public trust and the constitutional oath taken by lawmakers.
“Allegations of ‘bribery over £3 million bills’ in the National Assembly are a serious breach of public trust and lawmakers’ constitutional oath,” the lawsuit reads in part.
SERAP maintained that “legislators should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills in the National Assembly.
“Bribery should never have any influence on the exercise of legislative functions or the functioning of the National Assembly.”
SERAP argued that the alleged practice of ‘quid pro quo law making’ has deeply undermined the democratic rights of Nigerians.
According to the organization, allegations that lawmakers are paying up to £3 million in return for tabling motions and bills “make a mockery of the legislative and legislative powers set out in section 4 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.” [as amended].”The legal action further contended that the alleged corrupt practices amount to fundamental violations not only of the Nigerian Constitution but also of the country’s anti-corruption legislation and its international obligations, particularly under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), to which Nigeria is a State Party.
“These allegations have exposed how lawmakers are abusing the offices entrusted to them to deny Nigerians their constitutional and democratic rights,” SERAP lawyers said.
They stated that compelling National Assembly leaders to ensure a proper investigation would be a crucial step in building trust in democratic institutions and strengthening the rule of law.
The organization highlighted that the National Assembly has the constitutional mandate to function as a responsible legislative body and a control body that represents and protects the public interest, capable of ensuring accountability in cases of corruption.
SERAP also emphasized the need for protection of the legislator who made the public interest disclosure.
The organization noted that Auyo is a whistleblower, who is explicitly protected by Article 33 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
“Ibrahim Auyo had alleged that the process of tabling motions and bills in the National Assembly is financially prohibitive.
“According to him, ‘since I was elected a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass. And furthermore, even the bills and petitions are paid for,'” the lawsuit is quoted as saying.
Detailing further the alleged practice, Auyo allegedly said: “You have to pay between N3 million, N2 million or N1 million to table it. And after you table the bill, you have to follow up by pressuring the full 360 members of the House to accept the bill.”
SERAP expressed concern that similar unreported allegations regarding the practice of ‘bribery for £3 million bills’ may exist in the Senate.
“Ending persistent allegations of corruption in the National Assembly and the prevailing culture of impunity for perpetrators is a matter of rule of law and public interest,” the organization stated.
They highlighted that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires all public institutions, including the National Assembly, to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
At the time of filing this report, no date has been set for the hearing of the lawsuit.