Akpabio and others are sued by SERAP for allegedly receiving salaries and pensions

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and nine other former governors are the targets of a lawsuit brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over their receipt of salary and pensions while serving in the Senate.

Abdulaziz Yari, Aminu Tambuwal, Adamu Aliero, Adams Oshiomole, Ibrahim Gaidam, Seriake Dickson, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Aliyu Wammako, Gbenga Daniel, and Dave Umahi have all joined the lawsuit as respondents.

In the lawsuit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2023, SERAP is requesting “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr. Akpabio, nine other senators, and Mr. Umahi to stop collecting both salaries and pensions, and to return any pensions collected to their respective state treasuries.”

The group is also requesting a mandamus order to require and compel Mr. Akpabio, nine other senators, and Mr. Umahi to clarify and reveal if they have received, are receiving, or have ever received both wages and pensions as former governors.

SERAP claims in the lawsuit that “The Seventh Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) requires the former governors to stop collecting both salaries and pensions and to return any pensions collected.”

Without the reliefs requested, according to SERAP, “the travesty and private self-interest would continue as the former governors would continue to enjoy life pension packages and collect salaries as serving public officers.”

Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms. Valentina Adegoke, SERAP’s attorneys, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the organisation, which stated in part: “The UN Convention against Corruption requires public authorities to carry out a public obligation truthfully and diligently.

“The UN Convention also expressly forbids public officials from receiving significant severance pay. Public officials are obligated by the convention, and notably article 8, to encourage accountability and integrity in the management of public resources.

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A public officer shall not receive or be paid the emoluments of any public office at the same time that he receives or is paid the emoluments of any other public office, according to paragraph 2 (a) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in the Fifth Schedule, Part 1 of the Nigerian Constitution.

In the Senate and as ministers, fourteen former governors are said to be collecting pensions from their states that total billions of naira, according to reports. Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom State), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi State), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State), and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger State) are among the ex-governors.

The remaining individuals are: Ibrahim Danwkambo (Gombe State); Danjuma Goje (Gombe State); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State); Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto State); Orji Kalu (Abia State); Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe State); and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State). The cabinet of President Bola Tinubu includes at least seven former governors who may be receiving both salaries and pensions.

The court hearing for the lawsuit has not yet been scheduled.