A fresh wave of controversy has engulfed the National Assembly following allegations that lawmakers are forced to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to sponsor bills, motions, and petitions.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to refer the bribery scandal to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation.
The allegations were triggered by a viral video of Ibrahim Auyo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Jigawa State under the All Progressives Congress (APC). In the video, recorded in Hausa, Auyo alleged that the legislative process has been hijacked by a bribery racket.
According to him : “You have to pay from ₦3 million, ₦2 million, or ₦1 million to present it. And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill.”
In its reaction, SERAP, through a letter dated August 16, 2025, and signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the allegations as “a grave violation of public trust and a mockery of legislative powers under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.”
The group urged Akpabio and Abbas to publicly name lawmakers involved in the bribery scandal, recover proceeds of corruption, and ensure transparency in the lawmaking process.
“Bribery should never influence the exercise of legislative duties. These allegations of quid pro quo lawmaking have seriously undermined Nigerians’ democratic rights,” SERAP said.
The organisation also called for immediate protection of Auyo, describing him as a whistleblower under Article 33 of the UN Convention Against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
“The allegations have exposed how lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians their democratic rights,” the group added.
SERAP warned that failure by the leadership of the National Assembly to act within seven days would leave it with no option but to take legal action to compel them to refer the matter to anti-graft agencies.
“Nigeria has made binding commitments under the UN Convention Against Corruption. These must be respected. The National Assembly cannot continue to operate under a culture of impunity,” it stated.
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