The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written a letter to nti-corruption agencies- the Economic and Finanancial Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the National Assembly over allegations that lawmakers pay up to ₦3 million to present bills, motions, and petitions.
The call by the group arise from an allegation by a House of Representatives member, Ibrahim Auro, that federal lawmakers pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million each to present bills, motions, and petitions at the National Assembly.
In a letter by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group wants the two ant-sleaze agencies to identify the lawmakers involved in the alleged act.
The group called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to refer the allegation to anti-graft agencies for investigation.
“The allegations that lawmakers pay bribes to present motions, bills and proposals at the National Assembly are a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office by lawmakers,” SERAP said.
“Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly.
“Bribery should never have any influence in the exercise of legislative duties or running of the National Assembly.”
SERAP argued that “the allegations that lawmakers are paying up to ₦3 million as bribes in exchange for presenting motions and bills make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
The group warned that if the National Assembly leadership fails to act within seven days, it would consider legal actions to compel compliance “in the public interest.”
“Referring the allegations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and prosecution would improve public trust in the ability of the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure accountability in the exercise of lawmakers’ constitutional and legislative functions,” it noted.
Auro had alleged that “you have to pay from ₦3 million, ₦2 million, or ₦1 million to present [a bill].
“And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill.” the group said in the letter.
