The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate Presi­dent, Mr. Godswill Akpa­bio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, over their failure to account for the missing N18.6 billion meant for the construction of the National Assem­bly Service Commission (NASC) office complex.

Both Mr. Akpabio and Mr. Abbas are being sued on behalf of all National Assembly members as well as for themselves.

The National Assembly Service Commission has joined the lawsuit as a respondent.

SERAP’s action followed the alarming charges docu­mented in the latest 2022 an­nual report published by the Auditor-General of the Fed­eration on September 9, 2025.

In the suit number, FHC/ ABJ/CS/2457/2025, filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of man­damus to direct and compel Mr. Akpabio, Mr. Abbas and the NASC to account for the whereabouts of N18.6 billion meant for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex.

“A mandamus order directing and compelling Mr. Akpabio, Mr. Abbas, and the NASC to reveal the identity of the purported “fictitious construction business” that received N18.6 billion to build the National Assembly Commission Office Complex.

“An order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr. Akpabio, Mr. Abbas and the NASC to provide the assessment reports, bid ad­vertisements, bid quotations and construction contract, minutes of tender board’s meetings and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the complex project.

The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], international anticorruption norms, and public confidence are all gravely violated by the claims that N18.6 billion intended for the development of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex has been misappropriated or diverted.

“Nigerians have a right to know the location of the N18.6 billion and the specifics of the contractors who collected the funds.” It would be in the public interest to grant the requested relief.

“Directing and compelling Mr. Akpabio, Mr. Abbas, and the NASC to account for and explain the whereabouts of the N18.6 billion and details of the contractors that collected the money would strengthen the rule of law and build trust in democratic institutions,” claims SERAP.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehin­de Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, alos reads in part: “The National Assem­bly ought to live up to its con­stitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of trans­parency, accountability and the rule of law.

“Granting the reliefs sought would also improve public confidence and trust in the ability of the Nation­al Assembly to exercise their constitutional and oversight responsibilities, and to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, trans­parency and accountability in the management of pub­lic funds.

The National Assembly Service Commission spent almost N11.6 billion [N11,647,302,594,00] to “an unknown construction company” for “the construction of the commission’s complex within 24 months,” according to the recently released 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation.

According to reports, the payment was made on August 11, 2020. However, “the contract was inflated by more than N6.9 billion [N6,930,000.000.00].” and the funds were allegedly sent to the building firm on November 29, 2023, “for the conversion of the roof garden to office space.”

“The contract was report­edly awarded without a Bill of Quantity (BoQ) for the upward of the contract, and the ‘BoQ for the contract of N11.6 billion was not priced.’

According to reports, both contracts were given out without a needs analysis, newspaper ads, bidding procedure, contract agreement, bidders’ quotes, or Federal Executive Council (FEC) clearance. There was also no ‘Bureau of Public Procurement’s Certificate of ‘No Objection’.’

The N18.6 billion in public monies allocated for “the construction of the commission’s office complex and the conversion of the roof garden to office space” may have been misappropriated, stolen, or diverted, according to the Auditor-General. He wants the funds to be accounted for.

These serious transgressions demonstrate the National Assembly’s and its commission’s ongoing inability to uphold the values of accountability and transparency.

“Granting the reliefs sought would ensure that those suspected to be re­sponsible for the diversion and misappropriation of the N18.6 billion are brought to justice and facilitate the re­covery of any proceeds of corruption.

Corruption continues to have a significant negative social and economic impact on Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable citizens. Corruption exposes individuals to increased fees to pay for health, education and administrative services.

The majority of Nigerians are kept in poverty and denied opportunity due to corruption. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the National Assembly to stop it.

“Allegations of corruption continue to impede economic progress, violate social justice, erode confidence in political, social, and economic institutions, and result in subpar public services.

The Nigerian constitution’s Section 15(5) mandates that all corrupt practices and abuses of authority be eliminated in public institutions, including the National Assembly and its commission.

The National Assembly and its commission are clearly required by Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution to adhere to, uphold, and implement the provisions of Chapter 2.

The National Assembly and its commission are required under Section 16(1)(a)(b) to “secure the maximum welfare, freedom, and happiness of every citizen” and “harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic, and self-reliant economy.”

“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’

In order to ensure accountability in the administration of public resources, Nigeria has undertaken legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption.

“Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Cor­ruption also impose legal obligations on the National Assembly to ensure proper management of public af­fairs and public funds. These promises should be completely respected and upheld.

No date has however been established for the hearing of the suit.