The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, challenging the National Assembly’s failure to investigate the alleged “bribe-for-bills” scandal.
The legal action is questioning their alleged failure to investigate allegations that lawmakers are forced to pay up to ₦3 million to sponsor or present bills, motions, and petitions.
The suit, designated FHC/L/CS/2214/2025, named Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas not just in their official capacities, but also on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
SERAP’s legal action stemmed from recent disclosures made by Ibrahim Auyo (APC, Jigawa), a member of the House of Representatives.
It would 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 each just to sponsor or present legislative instruments.
In the lawsuit, SERAP is seeking “An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution of the allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly.
“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 human rights and anti-corruption advocacy group, through its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, argued that the failure by the National Assembly leadership to address the allegations constitutes a severe breach of public trust and the constitutional oath of office sworn by the lawmakers.
“The allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly are a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office by lawmakers,” the suit read in part.
SERAP maintained that, “Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly.
“Bribery should never have any influence in the exercise of legislative duties or running of the National Assembly.”
SERAP argued that the purported practice of ‘quid pro quo for lawmaking’ has profoundly undermined the democratic rights of Nigerians.
According to the organization, the allegations that lawmakers are paying up to ₦3 million in exchange for presenting motions and bills “make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
The legal action further contended that the alleged corrupt practices amount to fundamental breaches of not only the Nigerian Constitution but also the country’s anti-corruption legislation and international obligations, particularly under the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), to which Nigeria is a state party.
“These allegations have exposed how lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians of their constitutional and democratic rights,” SERAP’s lawyers stated.
SERAP maintained that compelling the National Assembly leadership to conduct a thorough investigation would be vital to restoring public trust in democratic institutions and reinforcing the rule of law.
