Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, filing a lawsuit over the alleged failure to address the N3.7 trillion budget padding controversy and the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi who blew the whistle on the issue.
The lawsuit, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/452/2024 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, accuses Akpabio of neglecting to refer the budget padding allegations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, as well as failing to reinstate Senator Ningi.
Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, was suspended for three months by the Senate following his claims of irregularities in the 2024 budget, alleging a difference of N3 trillion between the passed budget and the one being implemented. He cited instances of projects without locations and unauthorized fund insertions.
SERAP’s legal action demands Akpabio to;
- Refer the alleged budget padding to anti-corruption agencies.
- Ensure the immediate reinstatement of Senator Ningi.
- Establish transparency mechanisms to prevent misappropriation of funds allocated for constituency projects.
In response to the lawsuit, Akpabio’s counsel, Umeh Kalu (SAN), clarified that the Senate’s decision to suspend Ningi was not solely his client’s prerogative but a collective resolution of the Senate.
SERAP, however, contends that Ningi’s suspension was a flawed process and an act of retaliation against a whistleblower, protected under international conventions. They argue that proper investigation and prosecution of budget padding allegations are crucial for curbing corruption and ensuring accountability.
