SERAP sues Akpabio over Ningi, refers ‘budget padding’ to EFCC, ICPC

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over “the failure to refer the alleged N3.7 trillion budget padding to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, and to recall Senator Abdul Ningi who blew the whistle on the allegation.

Ningi was suspended for three months over his allegation that the 2024 budget was padded by over N3 trillion.

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/452/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP sought “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio to refer the alleged N3.7 trillion budget padding to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution of suspected perpetrators.”

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SERAP also sought “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio to immediately take steps to ensure the reinstatement of whistleblower Abdul Ningi who was suspended from the Senate over his allegations that the lawmakers padded the 2024 budget by irregularly inserting projects worth N3.7 trillion.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio to put in place transparency and accountability mechanisms to ensure that the trillions of Naira budgeted for constituency projects are not embezzled, misappropriated or diverted into private pockets.”