SERAP Takes Akpabio And Nine Former Governors to Court For Receiving Salaries And Pensions....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal proceedings against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and nine other former governors, all of whom are currently serving as members of the 10th Senate, for simultaneously receiving salaries and pensions as lawmakers.

In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP revealed that it had filed a lawsuit (number FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2023) on the previous Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The individuals named as respondents in the lawsuit are Abdulaziz Yari, Aminu Tambuwal, Adamu Aliero, Adams Oshiomole, Ibrahim Gaidam, Seriake Dickson, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Aliyu Wammako, Gbenga Daniel, and Dave Umahi.

SERAP is seeking a court order to compel Akpabio, the nine other senators, and Umahi to cease collecting both salaries and pensions and to return any pension payments to their respective state treasuries. Additionally, SERAP is requesting that they clarify and disclose whether they have received or are currently receiving both salaries and pensions as former governors. The organization also seeks to compel Akpabio, the nine other senators, and Umahi to disclose the details and amounts of the pensions they have received.

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SERAP contends that the Seventh Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) mandates former governors to cease collecting both salaries and pensions and to return any pension payments.

According to SERAP, collecting pensions as former governors and salaries as public officials constitutes a blatant violation of the Nigerian Constitution and public trust.

The lawsuit argues that the UN Convention against Corruption obliges public officials to fulfill their public duties truthfully and faithfully and implicitly prohibits large severance benefits for public officials.

Paragraph 2 (a) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in the Fifth Schedule, Part 1 of the Nigerian Constitution, prohibits public officers from receiving or being paid the emoluments of any public office while simultaneously receiving the emoluments of another public office.

Reports indicate that there are 14 former governors serving in the Senate and as ministers who may be receiving pensions worth billions of naira from their states. Some of these former governors include 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). Additionally, there are at least seven former governors in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet who are reportedly receiving both salaries and pensions.

Several states, including Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Edo, Jigawa, Niger, Kebbi, Kano, Ogun, Sokoto, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina, Rivers, and Delta, are currently implementing life pensions for former governors. These pensions include various benefits such as an annual pay of N200 million, two official vehicles with chauffeurs, a 300% furniture allowance, an aide, a cook, and lifetime security guards worth N5 million monthly, among others.