SERAP Urges Anti-Corruption Agencies to Probe National Assembly over Alleged ₦3m Fees to Present Bills, Motions, Petitions
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has formally petitioned Nigeria’s key anti-corruption agencies, urging an immediate investigation into the National Assembly over alleged illicit payments by lawmakers to present bills, motions, and petitions.
This demand follows public claims by Honourable Ibrahim Auro, a member of the House of Representatives, that legislators allegedly pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to have their legislative proposals tabled.
In a letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP called on both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to identify and prosecute any lawmakers found culpable.
The organisation also urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to refer these allegations directly to the anti-graft bodies for thorough investigation.
SERAP emphasised that failure by the leadership of the National Assembly to take action within seven days would compel the organisation to seek judicial remedies to enforce compliance in the public interest.
In its letter, SERAP described the alleged payments as a grave breach of public trust and a violation of the constitutional oath of office by lawmakers, stressing that bribery must have no place in legislative processes.
The group further warned that such practices, if proven, undermine the integrity of lawmaking and render Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution [as amended]—which vests legislative powers in the National Assembly—susceptible to abuse.
According to SERAP, referring the matter to the EFCC and ICPC for investigation and potential prosecution would serve to restore public confidence in the legislature’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
