News
SERAP Sues Akpabio, Abbas Over N18.6bn NASS Funds
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over their alleged failure to account for ?18.6bn reportedly allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission office complex.
SERAP filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja last week, naming Akpabio and Abbas as defendants on behalf of all members of the National Assembly, and joining the NASC as a respondent.
In a statement signed yesterday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the suit followed “grave allegations” contained in the 2022 annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025.
Citing details from the Auditor-General’s report, SERAP said the NASC “paid over N11.6 billion [N11,647,302,594.00] to ‘an unknown construction company’ for ‘the construction of the Commission’s Complex within 24 months.’
“The payment was reportedly made on 11 August 2020. But ‘the contract was inflated by over N6.9 billion [N6,930,000,000.00]’ and the money was reportedly paid to the construction company on 29 November 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 review of the contract, and the ‘BOQ for the contract of N11.6 billion was not priced.’
“Both contracts were reportedly awarded without any needs assessment, newspaper advertisements, bidding process, contract agreement, bidders’ quotations, or any approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). There was also no Bureau of Public Procurement Certificate of ‘No Objection’.”
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General fears the N18.6 billion budgeted for the construction of the Commission’s office complex and the conversion of the roof garden to office space “may have been diverted, misappropriated or stolen” and wants the money accounted for.
SERAP, in the suit filed by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, is seeking an order of mandamus compelling Akpabio, Abbas and the NASC to “account for the whereabouts of ?18.6bn meant for the construction of the NASC office complex.”
The organisation is also asking the court to compel the respondents to disclose the name of the “fictitious construction company” that allegedly received the funds, as well as make public the assessment reports, bid advertisements, bid quotations, contract documents, minutes of Tender Board meetings and the Federal Executive Council approval for the project.
SERAP argued that the alleged diversion or misappropriation of the ?18.6bn amounts to a violation of public trust, the 1999 Constitution and international anti-corruption standards.
“Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the ?18.6bn and details of the contractors that collected the money,” it said, noting that granting the orders sought would “serve legitimate public interests” and strengthen democratic institutions.
The suit stated that the National Assembly must “uphold and defend the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.”
SERAP argued that granting its reliefs would ensure accountability, enable the recovery of any diverted funds and promote public trust.
The organisation cited various constitutional provisions that require public institutions to prevent corrupt practices, manage national resources responsibly and safeguard the welfare of citizens.
It also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
The legal action comes after SERAP had earlier, on October 19, urged both Akpabio and Abbas to explain the alleged missing funds.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has called on the Rivers State Government to urgently recruit personnel into government-owned media establishments to address the acute shortage of staff caused by the retirement of many experienced workers.
The Union said the persistent manpower deficit has continued to affect the efficiency and productivity of state-owned media organisations, stressing that prompt recruitment would strengthen information dissemination and improve service delivery across the sector.
The resolution was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the State Congress of the Union held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt, recently.
By: King Onunwor
For Etim Effiong Queen , survival meant making an impossible choice: leaving her daughter behind to save her from a tradition she feared would change their lives forever.
Spain last night emerged winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Lionel Messi inspired Argentina opposition 1-0 in New Jersey, USA in a one sided final to become world champions for the second time in history after their historic victory in Africa in 2010.
The history continued with the Spanish team under Fuente becoming European and World Champions at the same period also for the second time.
The Spanish performance in the final proved a good advertisement for team cohesion, high work rate and dedication to culture as they demonstrated why many rated them as the best team of the tournament.
It was a final that many saw as a swansong for one of the game’s greats, Messi, and an opportunity to bow out of the world stage in glory. In fact, many would have seen the diminutive Argentine as the greatest player ever, if it he had led his country men to a consecutive word title.
But it turned out to be a final that demystified the aggressive and robust playing Argentines as Spain, in full flow of their possession- based football annihilated any threats that Argentina harboured.
Spain, despite lack of cutting edge for most of the game dominated and stifled Messi and co to the extent that the South Americans had neither shot nor one on target for almost 85 minutes.
Argentina, which had rode on the rub of the green and controversial victories to get to the final hardly laid a glove on the Spaniards as they relied on last ditch defending and dark arts to keep Spain at bay and took the tie to extra time.
The match was, however, at times overshadowed by the antics of the Argentinians.
However, their so-called luck, ultimately ran out as Spain rallied after being denied a goal to find a winner.
It came through Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. After a ball was swung in from the right, Nico Williams nodded a header down from the far post, which the Barcelona striker latched on to and fired into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes.
The South Americans applied pressure of their own in search of a goal late on and Tottenham Hotspur defender Marcos Senesi almost levelled from close range.
But, in the end, it was not to be for Lionel Messi on what could be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage as Lamine Yamal and his Spanish team-mates held on for a historic victory.
With the loss last night, Argentina ties Germany as the highest losing world cup finalists. This is the fourth time Argentina has been the FIFA World Cup runner-up in their history, equaling Germany as the team with the most FIFA World Cup runner-up finishes.
Argentina had previously been FIFA World Cup runners-up three times in 1930, 1990, and 2014, while Germany had been runners-up four times in 1966, 1982, 1986, and 2002
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