Federal lawmakers face heat for allegedly collecting N3m bribe to support bills – SERAP, NBA, CSLAC demand investigation, prosecution of culprits

Federal lawmakers face heat for allegedly collecting bribe to cause governance reputational damage

By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor

**********************************

 “In my opinion, if this is true, then governance in Nigeria has suffered a serious reputational crisis.

“That is why good governance cannot really happen in Nigeria. That is why transparency and accountability will be resisted by those beneficiaries of this kind of thing.

“I will urge the National Assembly to be very cautious about some of these issues. Any member who is involved in this extortion should not be tolerated by the National Assembly because it will destroy the entire reputation of the National Assembly and its members.

“I will strongly advise that they should not just dismiss this or even go to the extent of saying that they are going to punish the person who blew the whistle.

“But the issue is to let them put a mechanism to ensure that the occurrence of such of thing does not happen again” – Rafsanjani, CSLAC Executive Director.

**********************************

Allegations by House of Representatives member Ibrahim Auyo that fellow lawmakers pay between N1 million and N3 million bribe to get their bills presented in the Chamber have attracted the attention of critics, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which wants the matter investigated.

Also joined in the demand for investigation are the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CSLAC).

SERAP asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to “urgently refer the allegations … to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution of suspected perpetrators.”

Speaking in Hausa, the Jigawa lawmaker last week reportedly said: “Since I was elected as a member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass. And also, even the bills and petitions are paid for.

“You have to pay N3 million, N2 million, or N1 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.”

Some of Auyo’s colleagues dismissed the allegations, asking him to substantiate them when the House resumes plenary next month.

The House leadership also challenged him to provide evidence of his claims or face referral to the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics – even though the House knows that givers and takers of bribe hardly leaves a trail to prove the crime.

House spokesperson Akin Rotimi rubbished the allegations in a statement he issued at the weekend.

“The House of Representatives has taken note of a viral video in which Ibrahim Usman Auyo, member representing Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, alleged that members of the House receive payments to sponsor motions, bills, and petitions,” Rotimi said.NA

“These allegations are unsubstantiated and, if left unclarified, risk undermining public confidence in the National Assembly. Statements of this nature must be backed by verifiable facts and presented through the appropriate parliamentary channels.

“As the 10th Assembly recently crossed its midterm mark, stakeholders nationwide are rightly demanding accountability from their elected representatives, a legitimate and essential expectation in any thriving democracy.

“The House remains focused on delivering its mandate under the Legislative Agenda (2023–2027), which emphasises transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the people.

“The leadership of the House has consistently encouraged members to engage with their constituencies during recesses and report on their stewardship.

“This commitment is reflected in frequent town halls and public hearings, including a series of midterm engagements held in June and July, presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.

“The National Assembly is an institution of records, with well-established and transparent procedures for introducing bills, motions, and petitions, governed by the Constitution, House Standing Orders, and parliamentary ethics.

“The insinuation that sponsoring a motion or bill is a ‘contract job’ involving bribes is inconsistent with these processes and must be clarified.

“When the House reconvenes, Auyo will be invited to substantiate his claims before the House. Should he be unable to provide evidence, the matter will be referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate consideration, in line with parliamentary procedure.”

House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda also dismissed the allegations.

“I have been in the House for 14 years, and I have never paid money for my bills and motions to be taken. I am taken aback by the claim by the honourable member. Perhaps, he will share his experience with the House,” he told The PUNCH.

“I wonder why a member will pay money for his bills or motion to be heard. Who was the money paid to?”

SERAP demands probe

Nonetheless, SERAP asked Akpabio and Abbas to “urgently refer the allegations to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution of suspected perpetrators” and “to name anyone that may be involved in the alleged bribery and to ensure the recovery of any proceeds of bribery.”

It also urged the National Assembly (NASS) leadership “to ensure the protection of whistleblower Ibrahim Auyou, a member of the House of Representatives (APC, Jigawa) who made the allegations of ‘bribes for bills, motions and petitions.’”

An open letter dated 16 Augus 2025, signed by SERAP Deputy Director  Kolawole Oluwadare insisted that “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.

“Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly. Bribery should never have any influence on the exercise of legislative duties or the running of the National Assembly.

“These allegations of quid pro quo for lawmaking have seriously undermined Nigerians’ democratic rights.

“The allegations that lawmakers are paying up to N3m 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).

“These allegations have exposed how lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny Nigerians their democratic rights.”

SERAP asked the NASS leadership to refer Auyo’s allegations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and prosecution.

In its view, this will “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.

“By exercising strong and effective leadership in this matter, the National Assembly leadership can show Nigerians that the legislative body is a proper and accountable watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to hold itself to account in cases of corruption, including bribery.

“The allegations also amount to fundamental breaches of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s anticorruption legislation and international obligations, including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.

“Ibrahim Auyo is a whistleblower who is protected under Article 33 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Ibrahim Auyo is a whistleblower because of his public interest disclosures on alleged bribery to present motions and bills at the National Assembly.

“SERAP is concerned about the persistent allegations of corruption in the National Assembly and the prevailing culture of impunity of perpetrators.

“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions, including the National Assembly, to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

“Nigeria has also made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against corruption to prevent and combat corruption, including bribery. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.”

SERAP expressed concern that there may be similar unreported allegations of ‘bribes for bills’ in the Senate.

Both the NBA and CSLAC also reacted with disgust and want the allegations investigated, per The PUNCH.

Afam Osigwe SAN (NBA President)

“While I do not lend credence to the allegation, I must say that such an allegation if proven to be true, is criminal, it should not be taken lightly, and that the leadership of the House should investigate this matter, and if it is indeed true, hand over those who collect money before legislations are listed for hearing or even passed.

“Any legislature that does that will be a cash-and-carry legislature, will be a pay-to-play legislature, and that offends the spirit of our Constitution.

“And so it is an allegation that should be thoroughly investigated. And if found to be true, the Federal Republic of Nigeria must, through its own prosecutorial agencies, show that it is an action that is frowned upon, that will never be tolerated.”

Auwal Rafsanjani (CSLAC Executive Director)

 “In my opinion, if this is true, then governance in Nigeria has suffered a serious reputational crisis.

“That is why good governance cannot really happen in Nigeria. That is why transparency and accountability will be resisted by those beneficiaries of this kind of thing.

“I will urge the National Assembly to be very cautious about some of these issues. Any member who is involved in this extortion should not be tolerated by the National Assembly because it will destroy the entire reputation of the National Assembly and its members.

“I will strongly advise that they should not just dismiss this or even go to the extent of saying that they are going to punish the person who blew the whistle.

“But the issue is to let them put a mechanism to ensure that the occurrence of such of thing does not happen again.”

Read also:

Ex-ADC Chair Nwosu recounts ‘Tinubu people’ offered him bribes of cash and 3 ministerial posts to scuttle opposition coalition – which he rejected