N21m jumbo pay: SERAP sues Akpabio, Abbas

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, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, over “the failure to end the unlawful practice by the National Assembly of fixing its allowances and running costs and the failure to account for the monthly running costs paid to members.”

A former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, had alleged that the lawmakers fixed their salaries and allowances contrary to the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

But the National Assembly denied the allegation.

In the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1289/2024, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to end the unlawful practice of the National Assembly fixing its remuneration and allowances termed as ‘running cost’.

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“An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to disclose the exact amount of the monthly running costs being paid to and received by the lawmakers, and the spending details of any such running costs.”

SERAP also asked the court to compel Akpabio and Abbas to end the alleged practice of paying remuneration and allowances termed as ‘running costs’ into the personal accounts of lawmakers.