Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas have been taken to court over claims that lawmakers allegedly pay up to ₦3 million to present bills and motions in the National Assembly.
The case was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), following a viral video where a lawmaker, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, accused his colleagues of paying between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to table legislative items.
SERAP’s suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2214/2025, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The group wants the court to compel the presiding officers to address what it described as a serious bribery allegation rocking the parliament.
SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to refer to appropriate anticorruption agencies for investigation and prosecution the allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly.”
The organisation is also praying the court for “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to take all necessary measures to protect the whistleblower, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, who made the allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly.”
The group argues that the allegations represent a breach of public trust and undermine the oath taken by legislators.
It stated that lawmakers should never be required to “pay bribes to present motions and bills,” insisting that the claims, if true, “make a mockery of lawmaking” in Nigeria.
SERAP’s lawyers: Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo noted in the suit that compelling the leadership of the National Assembly to act would help restore faith in the legislature and uphold the rule of law.
Akpabio and Abbas are sued in their personal capacities and on behalf of all federal lawmakers. They are yet to publicly respond to the court action as at press time.
However, at the time of this report, no date has been announced for the hearing.
