November 30, 2025
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a suit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over their failure to account for ₦18.6 billion allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, office complex.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and also join the National Assembly Service Commission as a respondent.
Akpabio and Abbas are sued for themselves and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.
SERAP’s legal action follows findings in the 2022 annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, released on 9 September 2025. The report alleges that funds earmarked for the project may have been misappropriated, including payments to what it described as an “unknown” or “fictitious” construction company.
SERAP is asking the court for an order of mandamus compelling Akpabio, Abbas and the NASC to explain the whereabouts of the ₦18.6 billion and to disclose the identity of the contractor that received the funds.
The organisation also seeks an order directing them to provide all associated procurement records, including assessment reports, bid advertisements, quotations, contract documents, minutes of tender board meetings and Federal Executive Council approvals.
READ MORE; SERAP Tasks Tinubu On The Need To Probe Spending Of Security Vote By Governors.
The suit argues that the alleged diversion of the funds violates public trust, the 1999 Constitution and international anti-corruption obligations.
“Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the ₦18.6 billion and details of the contractors that collected the money,” SERAP states, adding that granting the reliefs would “serve legitimate public interests”.
SERAP also contends that compelling the National Assembly leadership to account for the funds would reinforce institutional integrity. “The National Assembly ought to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law,” the organisation argues.
According to the auditor-general’s report, the NASC paid over ₦11.6 billion to a construction company on 11 August 2020 for a 24-month contract to build the commission’s complex, but the contract was allegedly inflated by over ₦6.9 billion.
A further payment was reportedly made on 29 November 2023 for converting a roof garden into office space. The report states that the contract was awarded without a Bill of Quantity, bidding process, needs assessment, advertisements or approval from the Federal Executive Council, and without a Bureau of Public Procurement “Certificate of No Objection”.
The auditor-general warned that the funds may have been diverted, misappropriated or stolen.SERAP argues that such allegations highlight systemic failures in managing public resources and that accountability is crucial for reducing the economic and social impact of corruption.
SERAP, cites provisions of the Constitution requiring public institutions to prevent corrupt practices and manage national resources for the common good, as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.No date has been set for the hearing of the suit.
READ MORE; SERAP Drags CBN To Court Over ATM Fee Hike.
The statement read in part: “the National Assembly ought to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
“Granting the reliefs sought would also improve public confidence and trust in the ability of the National Assembly to exercise their constitutional and oversight responsibilities, and to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
“According to the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation, the National Assembly Service Commission paid over N11.6 billion [N11,647,302,594,00] to ‘an unknown construction company’ for ‘the construction the Commission’s Complex within 24 months.’
“The payment was reportedly made on 11 August 2020. But ‘the contract was inflated by over N6.9 billion [N6,930,000.000.00]’ and the money was reportedly paid to the construction company on 29 November 2023’ ‘for the conversion of the roof garden to office space.’
“The contract was reportedly awarded without a Bill of Quantity (BOQ) for the upward of the contract, and the ‘BOQ for the contract of N11.6 billion was not priced.’
“Both contracts were reportedly awarded without any needs assessment, newspaper advertisements, bidding process, contract agreement, bidders’ quotations and without any approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). There was also no ‘Bureau of Public Procurement’s Certificate of ‘No Objection’.
“The Auditor-General fears the N18.6 billion of public funds budgeted for ‘the construction of the Commission’s Office Complex and the conversion of the roof garden to office space’ may have been diverted, misappropriated or stolen. He wants the money accounted for.
“These grave violations reflect the continuing failure of the National Assembly and its commission to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.
“Granting the reliefs sought would ensure that those suspected to be responsible for the diversion and misappropriation of the N18.6 billion are brought to justice and facilitate the recovery of any proceeds of corruption.
“Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the heavy economic and social costs of corruption. Corruption exposes them to additional costs to pay for health, education and administrative services.
“Corruption traps the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprives them of opportunities. The National Assembly therefore has a responsibility to curb it.“Allegations of corruption continue to undermine economic development, violate social justice, and destroy trust in economic, social, and political institutions, as well as lead to deficient public services.
“Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions including the National Assembly and its commission to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the National Assembly and its commission to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.
“Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), the National Assembly and its commission have the obligations to ‘harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy’, and to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen.’
“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’
“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
“Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the National Assembly to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.”
