‘Bribe-for-Bills’ scandal: SERAP drags Akpabio, Abbas to Court for failure to probe

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the leadership of the National Assembly — Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, to the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The legal action is questioning their alleged failure to investigate allegations that lawmakers are forced to pay up to ₦3 million to sponsor or present bills, motions, and petitions.

The suit, designated FHC/L/CS/2214/2025, named Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas not just in their official capacities, but also on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.

SERAP’s legal action stemmed from recent disclosures made by Ibrahim Auyo (APC, Jigawa), a member of the House of Representatives.

It would be recalled that in a viral video recorded in Hausa, Auyo alleged that members of the National Assembly must pay sums ranging between ₦1 million and ₦3 million each just to sponsor or present legislative instruments.

In the lawsuit, SERAP is seeking “An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution of the allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly.

“An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to take all necessary measures to protect the whistleblower, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, who made the allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly.”

The human rights and anti-corruption advocacy group, through its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, argued that the failure by the National Assembly leadership to address the allegations constitutes a severe breach of public trust and the constitutional oath of office sworn by the lawmakers.

“The allegations of ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ at the National Assembly are a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office by lawmakers,” the suit read in part.

SERAP maintained that, “Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly.

“Bribery should never have any influence in the exercise of legislative duties or running of the National Assembly.”

SERAP argued that the purported practice of ‘quid pro quo for lawmaking’ has profoundly undermined the democratic rights of Nigerians.

According to the organisation, the allegations that lawmakers are paying up to ₦3 million in exchange for presenting motions and bills “make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
The legal action further contended that the alleged corrupt practices amount to fundamental breaches of not only the Nigerian Constitution but also the country’s anti-corruption legislation and international obligations, particularly under the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), to which Nigeria is a state party.

“These allegations have exposed how lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians of their constitutional and democratic rights,” SERAP’s lawyers stated.

They asserted that compelling the National Assembly leadership to ensure a proper investigation would be a crucial step in building trust in democratic institutions and strengthening the rule of law.

The organisation stressed that the National Assembly is constitutionally mandated to function as an accountable legislative body and a watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, capable of ensuring accountability in cases of corruption.

SERAP also emphasised the need for protection for the lawmaker who made the public interest disclosure.

The organisation noted that Auyo is a whistleblower, who is explicitly protected under Article 33 of the UN Convention against Corruption.

“Ibrahim Auyo had alleged that the process of presenting motions and bills at the National Assembly is financially prohibitive.

“According to him, ‘Since I was elected as a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass. And also, even the bills and petitions are paid for,’” the suit quoted.

Further detailing the alleged practice, Auyo reportedly said, “You have to pay from N3 million, N2 million, or N1 million to present it. And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill.”

SERAP expressed concern that similar unreported allegations of the ‘₦3m Bribe-for-Bills’ practice may exist within the Senate.

“Ending the persistent allegations of corruption in the National Assembly and the prevailing culture of impunity of perpetrators is a matter of the rule of law and public interest,” the organisation posited.

They stressed that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires all public institutions, including the National Assembly, to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.