The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for failing to account for N18.6 billion budgeted for the construction of the NASC office complex.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025, was filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, following revelations in the 2022 Auditor-General’s report released on September 9, 2025.
The report alleged that N11.6 billion was paid on August 11, 2020, to an “unknown construction company” for the project, while another N6.9 billion was later released on November 29, 2023, supposedly for converting a roof garden to office space.
According to the Auditor-General, the contracts were awarded without needs assessment, newspaper advertisement, open bidding, signed agreement, Federal Executive Council approval or Bureau of Public Procurement certificate.
The report concluded that there are strong indications the entire N18.6 billion may have been diverted or stolen.
SERAP is asking the court to compel Akpabio, Abbas and the NASC to:
– Publicly disclose the identity and details of the contractor that received the money
– Publish all procurement documents, bid records and payment vouchers
– Account for every kobo of the N18.6 billion
In the suit, SERAP argued that the alleged disappearance of the funds violates the 1999 Constitution, the public trust and Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Corruption.
“Nigerians deserve to know where their N18.6 billion went and who collected it,” the organisation stated.
The group warned that continued secrecy over public funds deepens poverty, destroys trust in government and encourages more corruption.
No hearing date has yet been fixed for the case.
