The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, seven days to refer recent allegations of bribery at the National Assembly to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), or face legal action.
SERAP also called on the two presiding officers to publicly name anyone implicated in the scandal, recover all proceeds of bribery, and ensure the protection of whistleblower, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, a member of the House of Representatives (APC, Jigawa), who made the allegations in a viral video.
Hon. Auyo alleged that lawmakers were required to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to present bills, motions, or petitions in the National Assembly.
“Since I was elected as a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass. Even the bills and petitions are paid for. You have to pay from ₦3 million, ₦2 million, or ₦1 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,” Auyo said.
In an open letter signed by the organisation, SERAP described the allegations as a grave breach of public trust and a violation of lawmakers’ constitutional oath of office.
Part of the letter read:
“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 the running of the National Assembly. These allegations of quid pro quo for lawmaking have seriously undermined Nigerians’ democratic rights.”
SERAP added that the alleged practice “makes a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and exposed how lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians their democratic rights.”
