Refund N110 Billion Spent On SUVs, Unlawful Allowances Or Face Legal Action, SERAP Tells Akpabio, Abbas

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas seven days “to ensure that members of the Senate and House of Representatives refund and return to the public treasury all monies, allowances, and benefits derived from the N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes declared unlawful by the Federal High Court.”

SERAP urged Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the National Assembly “to immediately establish effective mechanisms to ensure that all future procurements and expenditure of public funds comply strictly with due process requirements and are guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money.”

SERAP also urged them “to institutionalise public hearings on the lawmakers’ budget during every budget cycle and proactively publish the National Assembly’s detailed budgetary and expenditure information to enhance transparency, strengthen public confidence, and promote meaningful public participation in the budgeting process.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against you, other lawmakers, and the National Assembly to secure the recovery and return of the unlawfully expended N110 billion in the public interest and in accordance with the rule of law.”

“We also urged them to institutionalise public hearings on the lawmakers’ budget during every budget cycle and proactively publish the National Assembly’s detailed budgetary and expenditure information to enhance transparency, strengthen public confidence, and promote meaningful public participation in the budgeting process.”

The requests followed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos, delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, which found that the spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members breached procurement laws, constitutional obligations, and the public trust.

Flowing from Justice Bogoro’s judgment, according to SERAP, there must be consequences and full restitution for the lawmakers’ failure to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations, particularly in relation to the unlawful expenditure of the N110 billion, as found by the Court.

“Allowing lawmakers to retain benefits derived from unlawful and unconstitutional expenditure would be entirely inconsistent with the constitutional duty to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power and would undermine public confidence in democratic institutions,” the group added.

Continuing, SERAP noted that “No public official should be permitted to retain benefits obtained through conduct that has been judicially determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional.

“Restitution is necessary to uphold the rule of law, restore public trust, and ensure accountability for violations of constitutional and statutory duties.”