SERAP Sues Nigerian Senate President Akpabio, House Of Reps Speaker Abass Over 'Plan To Spend N110Billion On Bulletproof Cars, Others'The suit comes on the heels of a statement made by Mr Akpabio that the Clerk of the National Assembly had sent"holiday allowances" into the"various bank accounts of senators". Some 137 million Nigerians face extreme poverty.
In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/1606/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking"an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to review and reduce the N40 billion budgeted to buy 465 Sports Utility Vehicles and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials."
In the suit, SERAP argues:"Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry. "While N70 billion 'support allowance' is budgeted for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives is budgeted for 12 million poor Nigerians. N40 billion is also allocated to buy 465 SUVs and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials," it noted.
"It is also a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for members of the National Assembly to unjustifiably increase their own budget at a time when over 137 million poor Nigerians are living in extreme poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy. "The planned purchase is different from the official bulletproof vehicles expected to be purchased for the four presiding officers of the National Assembly.