SERAP files suit over an explosive accountability row, demanding answers on the alleged diversion of ₦18.6bn for the National Assembly complex

An explosive accountability row has erupted in Abuja as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project launched a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for their alleged failure to explain the whereabouts of ₦18.6bn earmarked for the National Assembly Service Commission office complex.

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Filed last week at the Federal High Court, suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025 names Akpabio and Abbas as defendants on behalf of all federal lawmakers, with the NASC also joined as a respondent.

The action followed what SERAP described as “grave allegations” in the 2022 Auditor-General’s report, released to the public on 9 September 2025.

According to SERAP, the report revealed that more than ₦11.6bn was paid in 2020 to what it termed an “unknown construction company” for a 24-month contract to build the Commission’s complex.

It further alleged that an additional ₦6.9bn was released in late 2023 for converting a roof garden into office space, despite the absence of core procurement requirements.

The Auditor-General’s findings indicated that the contract was inflated, awarded without a Bill of Quantity, lacking any priced BOQ, and issued without needs assessments, advertisements, bidding processes or Federal Executive Council approval.

There was also no Bureau of Public Procurement certificate of “No Objection”, raising fears that the ₦18.6bn may have been diverted or misappropriated.

In the suit, filed through lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, SERAP seeks an order of mandamus compelling the Senate President, Speaker and NASC to publicly account for the funds.

It is also demanding disclosure of the company that allegedly received the payments, along with assessment reports, bid notices, quotations, contract documents, tender board minutes and FEC approvals.

SERAP argued that the alleged diversion strikes at the heart of public trust and violates constitutional and international anti-corruption standards.

The organisation stressed that Nigerians “have the right to know” what happened to the money, insisting that transparency would serve the public interest and strengthen democratic governance.

The suit adds that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to uphold transparency, the rule of law and responsible use of public resources, and that granting the reliefs sought would support the recovery of any misused funds.

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The filing comes weeks after SERAP publicly urged both Akpabio and Abbas to clarify the alleged discrepancies in the budgeted funds. As of now, the Federal High Court has yet to fix a hearing date.