The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a suit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over the alleged failure of the National Assembly to account for a missing N18.6 billion earmarked for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, Office Complex in Abuja.
The lawmakers were sued on behalf of all members of the National Assembly. Also listed as a respondent in the suit is the National Assembly Service Commission.
SERAP said the lawsuit followed allegations contained in the 2022 annual report published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on September 9, 2025.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025, filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the group is seeking an order of mandamus compelling Akpabio, Abbas, and NASC to explain and disclose the whereabouts of the N18.6 billion, including the identities of the contractors involved in the project.
The civil rights organisation is also asking the court to direct the NASS leadership to reveal the name of an alleged “fictitious construction company” that reportedly received the sum for the building project.
Additionally, SERAP is requesting that the respondents provide all relevant project documentation, including assessment reports, bid advertisements, quotations, construction contracts, minutes of Tender Board meetings, as well as approval issued by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, for the project.
In its argument before the court, the group described the allegations as a breach of public trust and a violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, relevant domestic statutes, and international anti-corruption standards.
SERAP said, “Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the N18.6 billion and details of the contractors who collected the money. Granting the reliefs sought would serve legitimate public interests.”
The organisation added that compelling NASS leadership and NASC to account for the spending “would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.”
The suit was filed by SERAP through its counsel, including Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo.
Part of the originating processes read, “The National Assembly ought to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.”
The rights group confirmed that no hearing date has yet been fixed by the court.
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