The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal proceedings against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and nine other former governors from the 10th Senate who were reportedly receiving both salaries and pensions as senators.
The 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.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2023, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja last Friday, SERAP is seeking a court order, specifically a “mandamus,” to compel Mr. Akpabio, the nine other senators, and Mr. Umahi to cease collecting both salaries and pensions and to refund any pensions they have received to their respective state treasuries.
SERAP is also requesting the court to mandate Mr. Akpabio, the nine other senators, and Mr. Umahi to clarify and disclose whether they have been or are currently receiving both salaries and pensions as former governors.
The organization’s argument is based on the Seventh Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), which stipulates that former governors should discontinue collecting both salaries and pensions and return any pensions they have received.
SERAP asserts that unless these remedies are granted, the former governors will continue to benefit from life pension packages while also collecting salaries as serving public officers, which it considers an abuse of public resources for personal gain.
The lawsuit, filed by SERAP’s legal representatives, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms. Valentina Adegoke, also references international conventions and domestic constitutional provisions to support its case. These include the UN Convention against Corruption, which mandates public officials to discharge their duties with integrity and responsibility. Additionally, the Nigerian Constitution’s Code of Conduct for Public Officers explicitly prohibits receiving emoluments from multiple public offices simultaneously.
According to reports, there are fourteen former governors in the Senate and as ministers who may be collecting substantial pensions from their respective states, including the mentioned individuals and others.
No hearing date has been set for the suit at this time.