Rights Group Wants National Assembly To Account For Missing N18.6bn

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Leadership of the National Assembly to account for N18.6 billion allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Office Complex.

SERAP, in a suit yet to be assigned to a judge, is seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to disclose the whereabouts of the funds and the details of the contractors who collected the money.

The organisation further urged the court to order them to reveal the name of the so-called ‘fictitious construction company’ that received the N18.6 billion.

The Plaintiff also demands the release of relevant documentation, including assessment reports, bid advertisements, quotations, construction contracts, minutes from Tender Board meetings, and approval from the Federal Executive Council for the project.

Akpabio and Abbas were sued in their personal capacity and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly. At the same time, the National Assembly Service Commission was also joined as a respondent in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025.

In an affidavit filed alongside the suit, SERAP argued that the alleged misappropriation or diversion of the N18.6 billion constitutes a serious breach of public trust, as well as a violation of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international anti-corruption standards.

The organisation maintained that Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the N18.6 billion and details of the contractors involved. Granting these requests would serve critical public interests.

The plaintiff also averred that if the court granted the reliefs, it would enhance public confidence and trust in the National Assembly’s ability to exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities, and to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of public funds.

Quoting the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation, SERAP claimed that the National Assembly Service Commission paid over N11.6 billion [N11,647,302,594.00] to ‘an unknown construction company’ for ‘the construction of the Commission’s Complex within 24 months.

The plaintiff further quoted the report to have stated, “The payment was reportedly made on 11 August 2020. However, the contract was inflated by over N6.9 billion (N6,930,000,000.00), and the money was allegedly paid to the construction company on November 29, 2023, for the conversion of the roof garden into office space.

“The contract was reportedly awarded without a Bill of Quantity (BOQ) for the upward movement 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’ 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 high economic and social costs of corruption. Corruption exposes them to additional expenses 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, 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.” No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.