Glamtush
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Business & Brands
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Features
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Telenovelas
  • Events
  • Home
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Business & Brands
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Features
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Telenovelas
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Glamtush
No Result
View All Result
Home News

SERAP Sue Lawan, Gbajabiamila Over ‘N4.4bn Missing NASS Funds’

byeditor
March 21, 2021
in News, Nigeria News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Missing NASS Funds
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on WhatsappShare on LinkedinShare on Telegram

SERAP Sue Lawan, Gbajabiamila Over ‘N4.4bn Missing NASS Funds’

 

READ ALSO

Primate Ayodele Releases 31st Edition Of Annual Prophecy Book “Warnings To The Nations”

Real Estate Industry Experts, Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Building Collapse In Lagos, Seek Urgent Reform

 

 

 

Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila have been sued over N4.4bn missing NASS funds.

The leaders are sued for “their failure to probe, and to refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies allegations that N4.4bn of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated, diverted or stolen, as documented in three annual audited reports by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

They were both sued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The suit followed the publication of annual audited reports for 2015, 2017, and 2018 in which the Auditor-General of the Federation raised “concerns about alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds, sought the recovery of any missing funds, and asked that the evidence of recovery should be forwarded to his office.”

[irp]

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/366/2021 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus directing and compelling Dr Lawan, Mr Gbajabiamila and the National Assembly to perform their constitutional oversight functions to ensure prompt and transparent investigation into the allegations that N4.4 billion budgeted for the National Assembly may be missing and unaccounted for.”

In the suit, SERAP argued that “By the combined reading of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the UN Convention against Corruption, which Nigeria has ratified, the National Assembly has legal duties to combat corruption, and promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.”

According to SERAP: “transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and wealth is essential for promoting development, people’s welfare and well-being, and their access to basic public services, as well as good governance and the rule of law.”

SERAP also argued that, “The National Assembly has the legal responsibility to ensure that the serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement documented by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation are promptly, independently, thoroughly, and transparently investigated, and to end the culture of impunity that is fuelling these allegations.”

[irp]

According to SERAP, “The failure of the National Assembly to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and to refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies the allegations documented in the annual audited reports for 2015, 2017 and 2018 is a fundamental breach of the oversight and public interest duties imposed on the legislative body by sections 4, 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “Granting this application would serve the interest of justice, reduce corruption and mismanagement, as well as end impunity of perpetrators, and advance the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.”

“This suit seeks to vindicate the rule of law, the public interest, and to promote transparency and accountability. Government agencies and institutions are responsible to a court of justice for the lawfulness of what they do, and of that, the court is the only judge. The National Assembly has no legally justifiable reason to refuse to investigate the allegations documented by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

“Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the Constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm.”

It would be recalled that SERAP had in a letter dated 30 January 2021 requested Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila to “use their good offices to urgently probe and refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies allegations that N4.4 billion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly may have been misappropriated, diverted or stolen.”

The letter, read in part: “The Auditor-General noted in his 2015 report that the National Assembly account was spent N8,800,000.00 as unauthorised overdraft, contrary to Financial Regulations 710. The National Assembly also reportedly spent N115,947,016.00 without any documents. Another N158,193,066.00 spent as cash advances to 17 staff between January and June 2015 is yet to be retired.”

“The Senate reportedly spent N186,866,183.42 to organise Senate Retreat and Pre-Valedictory Session for the 7th Senate, although the money was meant to pay vehicle loan. The Senate also reportedly spent N15,964,193.63 as bank charges between July and December 2015, contrary to Financial Regulations 734.”

[irp]

“The House of Representatives also reportedly spent N624,377,503.30 to buy 48 Utility Vehicles. However, 14 vehicles were not supplied. The House also failed to make the 34 vehicles supplied available for verification. Similarly, the House spent N499,666,666.00 as cash advances to staff to carry out various assignments but has failed to retire the money.”

“The House of Representatives also reportedly paid N70,560,000.00 as overtime and ‘special’ allowances to officials who are not legislative aides between November and December 2015 without any authority.”

“The National Assembly Service Commission reportedly failed to remit N30,130,794.10 deducted from the salaries of the Executive Chairman and the Commissioners as car loan.”

“The National Assembly Budget and Research Office reportedly spent N66,303,411.70 as out-of-pocket expenses without any documents. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies paid N246,256,060.51 by cheques, despite the prohibition of payments by cheque by the Federal Government, except in extreme cases, and contrary to Financial Regulation 631.”

“According to the Auditor-General Report for 2017, the House of Representatives reportedly spent ₦95,212,250.00 without due process and without any documents. The National Assembly Management Account also reveals that N673,081,242.14 was spent between April and October 2017 without any documents. The Auditor-General reported that the funds may have been misappropriated.”

“The Senate Account also reportedly shows that ₦1,364,816,397.95 was spent on store items without any documents to show for the spending. The Auditor-General stated that his office was denied access to the store and to the Senate’s records.”

“The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies also reportedly failed to remit ₦2,181,696.50 from the contract of goods and services. The Institute also paid ₦67,296,478.00 without any payment vouchers.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit

Related Posts

Prophecy Book
News

Primate Ayodele Releases 31st Edition Of Annual Prophecy Book “Warnings To The Nations”

July 6, 2025
Building Collapse In Lagos
News

Real Estate Industry Experts, Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Building Collapse In Lagos, Seek Urgent Reform

July 4, 2025
Aminu Dantata
News

Billionaire Businessman Aminu Dantata Dies At 94

June 28, 2025
Gabonese President
News

Tinubu Receives Gabonese President In Abuja

June 27, 2025
Nigerian Woman Arrested In India
Metro/Crime

Nigerian Woman Arrested In India’s Major Drug Crackdown

June 27, 2025
Tax Laws
News

New Tax Laws Bold Step Toward More Transparent, Investment-Friendly Economy – Otedola

June 27, 2025
Next Post
Explosion In Ondo Catholic Church

Whereabouts Of Abducted Ogun Traditional Ruler Unknown - Police

LATEST COVER

Priscilla Ojo

GPBN Associates Member

Fidelity Bank

Zenith Bank

Prophecy Book

Primate Ayodele Releases 31st Edition Of Annual Prophecy Book “Warnings To The Nations”

July 6, 2025
Adron Homes

Adron Homes Made My Dream Come True  — New Homeowner Shares Inspiring Testimony

July 5, 2025
GTCO Plc

GTCO Plc Becomes 1st Financial Services Institution In West Africa To Achieve Listing And Trading Of Its Ordinary Shares On The London Stock Exchange

July 5, 2025
Building Collapse In Lagos

Real Estate Industry Experts, Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Building Collapse In Lagos, Seek Urgent Reform

July 4, 2025
Zenith Bank

Zenith Bank Tops Nigeria’s Banking Sector For 16th Consecutive Year In The 2025 Top 1000 World Bank’s Ranking 

July 4, 2025
Peter Rufai Is Dead

Former Super Eagles Goalkeeper Peter Rufai Is Dead

July 3, 2025
Young Entrepreneurs

Unity Bank Empowers Young Entrepreneurs With ₦16M Business Grant

July 3, 2025
World Environment Day 2025

Union Bank Strengthens Sustainability Leadership With Symposium And School Recycle Bin Donations On World Environment Day 2025 

July 3, 2025
Diogo Jota

Liverpool Forward Diogo Jota Dies In Car Crash

July 3, 2025
Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank Extends Relief Efforts To Eti-Osa Community With Food Bank Initiative

July 2, 2025

GLAMTUSH

 

Glamtush publishes the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, as well as those making the fashion world interesting and adorable.

RELEVANT PAGES

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

REACH OUT

Do you have any news for us? Event Coverage, Press Releases or Adverts? Then reach out to us via glamtush@gmail.com or glamtush15@gmail.com

OFFICE ADDRESS

Lagos, Nigeria

Copyright © 2022 Glamtush

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Glamtush – Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Naija News
  • Glamtush – Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Naija News
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Write for Us

© 2022 Glamtush

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Business & Brands
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Features
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Telenovelas
  • Events

© 2022 Glamtush