The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has initiated legal action against ten former governors who currently serve as senators, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The suit challenges their practice of receiving both senatorial salaries and gubernatorial pensions simultaneously.
The lawsuit, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2023, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
SERAP is requesting an order of mandamus to compel these former governors, who are now senators, to cease collecting pensions and return any pensions they have received to their respective state treasuries.
In addition, SERAP is seeking a directive for these individuals to clarify whether they have been or are currently receiving both salaries and pensions.
The organization is also requesting information on the details and amounts of pensions they have received.
SERAP contends that the Nigerian Constitution’s Seventh Schedule stipulates that former governors should discontinue receiving both salaries and pensions.
The organization argues that the continued receipt of dual payments by these individuals constitutes a breach of their fiduciary duties and is detrimental to the public interest.
Furthermore, SERAP highlights that collecting pensions as former governors while drawing salaries as serving public officers is a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution and public trust.
The organization asserts that such practices are especially troubling when over 137 million Nigerians are grappling with extreme poverty, aggravated by the removal of fuel subsidies.
This legal action underscores SERAP’s commitment to holding public officials accountable and promoting transparency and ethical conduct in public service.
The suit was filed by SERAP’s legal representatives, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms. Valentina Adegoke, on behalf of the organization.
It aims to address what SERAP views as a breach of public trust and a violation of constitutional principles by former governors who now serve as senators.
