The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted legal action against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over their alleged refusal to probe claims that lawmakers pay as much as ₦3 million to sponsor motions, bills, and petitions in the National Assembly.
The lawsuit stems from a viral video in which Ibrahim Auyo, a member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged that legislators pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to present legislative proposals.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP announced that it had filed suit number FHC/L/CS/2214/2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus compelling Akpabio and Abbas to refer the allegations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.
The organisation also urged the court to direct the National Assembly leadership to protect Auyo, describing him as a whistleblower under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
According to the filing, made by SERAP’s lawyers—Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo—the group argued that the alleged bribery scheme represents a grave violation of public trust and a breach of legislators’ constitutional oaths of office.
“Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly. Bribery should never influence the exercise of legislative duties or the running of the Assembly,” the group stated.
It added that the alleged payments “make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
Quoting Auyo’s remarks, SERAP noted that the lawmaker hadsaid, “Sincee I was elected as a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass. Even the bills and petitions are paid for. You have to pay from ₦3 million, ₦2 million, or ₦1 million to present it, and after that, you must lobby the whole 360 members to accept the bill.”
The organisation maintained that such claims, if proven, undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and erode public trust in governance.
SERAP urged the court to compel the National Assembly leadership to conduct a credible and independent probe into the allegations, stating that such a step would demonstrate a commitment to transparency and restore confidence in the legislature.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.