The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over what it describes as the failure of the leadership of the National Assembly to explain the whereabouts of N18.6 billion meant for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Office Complex.
SERAP filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing the two presiding officers—who are sued on behalf of all lawmakers—of refusing to provide details about how the funds allocated for the project were spent. Also joined in the case is the National Assembly Service Commission, which is responsible for administrative operations and services within the National Assembly.
The move follows revelations contained in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, made public on 9 September 2025. The report raised serious concerns over alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for the construction project. According to the Auditor-General’s findings, the N18.6 billion may have been paid to what was described as a “fictitious construction company,” while there is no evidence that any meaningful work was done.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025, was filed last week by SERAP’s legal team, made up of Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo. The organisation is asking the court to issue several orders of mandamus, which are legal directives compelling public officials to perform duties required by law.
SERAP is asking the court for:
An order compelling Akpabio, Abbas and the NASC to account for the N18.6 billion meant for the construction of the NASC Office Complex.
An order directing them to disclose the name of the alleged “fictitious” company that reportedly collected the funds without carrying out the project.
An order compelling them to provide all documents relating to the project, including assessment reports, bid advertisements, quotations, contract documents, minutes of Tender Board meetings, and Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the project.
According to SERAP, these documents are necessary to determine whether due process was followed during the procurement process and whether the money was spent as approved in the budget.
SERAP argues that refusing to account for the N18.6 billion is a violation of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires transparency and responsible use of public funds. The organisation said Nigerian citizens have a right to know how their money is spent, especially when large sums are involved.
“The allegations that N18.6 billion meant for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex is misappropriated or diverted are a grave violation of the public trust,” SERAP stated.
The group added that the alleged mismanagement also violates international standards on anti-corruption and public accountability, which Nigeria has agreed to follow through various treaties.
SERAP further noted that granting its requests would serve the public interest and help strengthen confidence in public institutions.
“Directing and compelling Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the NASC to account for and explain the whereabouts of the N18.6 billion would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law,” SERAP said in its suit.
Allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds have been recurring issues in Nigeria. The National Assembly, which serves as the law-making body of the country, has often been criticised for failing to lead by example on matters of transparency and accountability.
Public procurement scandals, abandoned projects, and inflated contract figures have formed part of long-standing complaints among citizens, especially in a country where many basic public services remain underfunded.
The National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex is one of several capital projects approved for the legislature in recent years. The commission oversees administrative matters, staffing, and internal service delivery for lawmakers. A modern office complex is considered critical to improving the efficiency of legislative work, but the alleged disappearance of funds has raised questions about how resources are managed.
The Auditor-General’s report is particularly significant because it is one of the most important oversight tools used to assess how government ministries, departments, and agencies handle public funds. When official audit reports raise red flags, civil society groups like SERAP often use them to push for legal action or policy reform.
Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts have seen mixed results. While some high-profile cases have led to recoveries and convictions, many investigations have stalled or ended quietly. Rights groups argue that a lack of political will is part of the problem, especially when cases involve influential officeholders.
The National Assembly itself has previously been involved in controversies involving budget padding, constituency project mismanagement, and contract irregularities. These past experiences have made citizens particularly sensitive to issues involving the legislature and public funds.
SERAP has been one of the most active organisations pushing for transparency. Over the years, the group has filed several suits compelling government agencies to release information on spending, contract details, and recoveries. Some of these cases have resulted in court orders mandating public officials to provide information, although compliance has not always been immediate.
As of the time of filing the story, the Federal High Court has not fixed a date for the hearing of the case. It is expected that the court will review the application and set a schedule in the coming weeks.
Neither the offices of the Senate President nor the Speaker have issued public statements responding to the lawsuit. The National Assembly Service Commission has also not reacted to SERAP’s claims.
Many Nigerians are waiting to see whether the court will compel the National Assembly leadership to release the requested information. Citizens and advocacy groups say this case is an important test of Nigeria’s commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption.
