A heated debate has emerged among Nigeria’s legal experts following the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s (SERAP) call for an urgent investigation into allegations that members of the National Assembly pay sums up to N3 million to have bills presented and debated. The controversy has divided opinion among leading lawyers about the best approach to address the claims.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ahamba, expressed skepticism over SERAP’s approach. He questioned whether paying a personal sum to present a bill constitutes a crime under current laws, asking, “If somebody decides to pay money, his personal money to present a bill, when he has a right to present a bill, what is my business about that? And what is SERAP’s business about that?” Ahamba urged that if public funds are being misappropriated, such instances should be reported directly to anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, bypassing the accused lawmakers.
Conversely, human rights lawyer Mr Ige Asemudara lauded SERAP’s demand as “patriotic” and “legitimate.” He emphasized that the allegations are a serious national embarrassment requiring immediate investigation and prosecution of all implicated National Assembly officers. Asemudara condemned the alleged practice as a severe obstruction to good governance and reaffirmed the need for transparency.
The allegations surfaced after Ibrahim Auyo, a member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State, revealed in a viral Hausa-language video that lawmakers pay between N1 million and N3 million to have bills, motions, or petitions presented on the floor. SERAP has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, to refer the matter to anti-corruption agencies and ensure protections for whistleblower Auyo.
