The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to court over allegations that ₦18.6 billion meant for the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Office Complex cannot be traced.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court, accuses the leadership of the National Assembly of failing to explain how the huge sum, approved for the construction of the commission’s office complex, vanished from government records.
National Assembly Service Commission itself was also listed as a respondent in the suit.
SERAP said the action was necessary after findings from the 2022 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, released on September 9, 2025, raised serious concerns about how the money was handled.
According to the civic group, the report documented several irregularities around the project, prompting the demand for full accountability.
In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025, SERAP asked the court for an order of mandamus compelling Akpabio, Abbas and the NASC to give a detailed explanation of the project funds.
The organisation also wants the National Assembly heads to disclose the identity of the “fictitious construction company” said to have received the ₦18.6bn.
SERAP is further pushing for the release of all documents related to the contract, including assessment reports, bidding records, quotations, minutes of tender meetings, contract approvals and evidence of Federal Executive Council (FEC) authorisation.
The group insists transparency is non-negotiable since public money is involved.
The lawsuit argues that the alleged disappearance of the funds is a breach of the 1999 Constitution, anti-corruption standards, and public trust.
SERAP noted that Nigerians deserve to know who got the money, how it was disbursed and why no traceable project exists.
According to details in the Auditor-General’s report, more than ₦11.6 billion was reportedly paid to an unknown contractor as far back as August 2020 for the construction of the NASC complex.
The report also revealed that an additional ₦6.9 billion was later paid in November 2023 for a separate job described as the conversion of a “roof garden” to office space.
What raised further questions was that the entire procurement process allegedly took place without bill of quantities, bidding procedures, advertisements, needs assessments, contract agreements or FEC approval.
The report also indicated that there was no Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) certificate of “No Objection.”
The Auditor-General expressed fear that the money may have been diverted, mismanaged or stolen, as there was no verifiable evidence that the construction project either existed or progressed in line with the massive payments released.
SERAP’s legal team—Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo—said the National Assembly must demonstrate leadership by upholding transparency.
They argued that granting the reliefs would help restore public confidence and ensure that those responsible for the alleged diversion are held accountable.
The organisation added that corruption continues to drain public resources and deepen poverty.
It maintained that public institutions, especially the National Assembly, must honour constitutional obligations to prevent misuse of funds and protect the welfare of citizens.
SERAP reminded the court that Nigeria is legally bound under the UN Convention against Corruption to maintain openness in the handling of public funds.
It stressed that these standards apply directly to the National Assembly and its agencies.
However, the court has not fixed a date for hearing.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.