SERAP Sues Akpabio and Abbas Over ₦18.6bn NASS Funds

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 their alleged failure to account for ₦18.6bn reportedly allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) office complex

According to the Auditor-General’s report, the NASC paid over ₦11.6 billion to an unknown construction company for the construction of the Commission’s Complex within 24 months. However, the contract was allegedly inflated by over ₦6.9 billion, and the money was reportedly paid to the construction company without a Bill of Quantity (BOQ) or any approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC)

SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling Akpabio, Abbas, and the NASC to account for the whereabouts of ₦18.6bn meant for the construction of the NASC office complex. The organization is also asking the court to compel the respondents to disclose the name of the fictitious construction company that allegedly received the funds and make public the assessment reports, bid advertisements, bid quotations, contract documents, minutes of Tender Board meetings, and the Federal Executive Council approval for the project

The alleged diversion or misappropriation of the ₦18.6bn amounts to a violation of public trust, the 1999 Constitution, and international anti-corruption standards. SERAP argues that Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the ₦18.6bn and details of the contractors that collected the money