The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas over alleged mismanagement of N18.6 billion allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) office complex.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja (FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025), also names the NASC as a respondent.
According to SERAP, the legal action follows serious concerns raised in the 2022 annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on 9 September 2025.
The report reportedly revealed that NASC paid over N11.6 billion to an “unknown construction company” for the building of its office complex between August 2020 and November 2023.
The contract was later inflated by an additional N6.9 billion for the conversion of a roof garden into office space.
“The payment was made without a Bill of Quantity for the upward review, no proper needs assessment, no bidding process, and no Federal Executive Council approval. There was also no certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the Bureau of Public Procurement,” SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare said.
SERAP is seeking a court order of mandamus compelling Akpabio, Abbas, and NASC to account for the N18.6 billion, reveal the name of the construction company involved, and make public all project documents, including assessment reports, bid advertisements, quotations, contract agreements, and minutes of Tender Board meetings.
Oluwadare said: “Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of this money and the details of the contractors that received it. Granting these orders would strengthen democratic institutions and uphold public trust.”
The organisation argued that the alleged diversion or mismanagement constitutes a violation of public trust, Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, and international anti-corruption standards, including obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.
SERAP also noted that such action would reinforce accountability and transparency in the National Assembly.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case. The lawsuit follows an earlier call by SERAP on 19 October for the National Assembly leadership to explain the alleged missing funds.
