ABUJA: The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over allegations that some lawmakers are paying as much as ₦3 million to present bills, motions, and petitions at the National Assembly.
The suit, filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also lists Akpabio and Abbas as being sued on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
It follows a viral video released by Ibrahim Auyo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Jigawa State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), in which he alleged that legislators were required to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million before their legislative proposals could be entertained.
In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/2214/2025, SERAP is asking the court for an order of mandamus directing and compelling Mr. Akpabio and Mr. Abbas to refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution the allegations of ₦3 million ‘Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly.
The organisation is also seeking an order compelling both presiding officers to take immediate measures to protect Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, the whistleblower, who made the allegations publicly.
According to SERAP, the allegations, if proven true, represent a grave breach of public trust and a flagrant violation of lawmakers’ constitutional oaths of office.
The group argued that bribery and extortion have no place in the exercise of legislative powers under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions or bills in the National Assembly. Bribery should never have any influence in legislative processes or parliamentary administration, SERAP stated in its application.
The civic organisation, represented by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, said that compelling the Senate President and Speaker to ensure a credible investigation would help restore integrity, promote accountability, and rebuild public confidence in democratic institutions.
SERAP added that allowing such practices to persist would undermine the rule of law, distort legislative priorities, and discourage transparency in governance.
The allegations that lawmakers are paying millions of naira to present motions or bills make a mockery of lawmaking and erode public faith in democratic governance, the statement added.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case as of press time.
