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SERAP Drags Akpabio, Abbas To Court Over Missing ₦18.6 Billion NASS Office Funds

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The SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, over unexplained spending of ₦18.6 billion earmarked for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex in Abuja.

Akpabio and Abbas were sued in their own right and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly. Also listed as a respondent in the suit is the National Assembly Service Commission.

The lawsuit followed allegations in the Auditor-General’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025, which flagged the spending as unjustified and unaccounted for.

In the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/2457/2025 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the NASC to account for the whereabouts of ₦18.6bn meant for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex.”

SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the NASC to disclose the name of the alleged ‘fictitious construction company’ that collected N18.6 billion for the construction of the National Assembly Commission Office Complex.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the NASC to provide the assessment reports, bid advertisements, bid quotations and construction contract, minutes of Tender Board’s meetings and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Approval for the complex project.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “The allegations that ₦18.6 billion meant for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex is misappropriated or diverted are a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and international anticorruption standards.”

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SERAP is also arguing that, “Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the ₦18.6 billion and details of the contractors that collected the money. Granting the reliefs sought would serve legitimate public interests.”

According to SERAP, “Directing and compelling Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the NASC to account for and explain the whereabouts of the ₦18.6 billion and details of the contractors that collected the money would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part, “the National Assembly ought to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.”

“Granting the reliefs sought would also improve public confidence and trust in the ability of the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities, and to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.”

“According to the recently published 2022 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation, the National Assembly Service Commission paid over ₦11.6 billion [₦11,647,302,594,00] to ‘an unknown construction company’ for ‘the construction of the Commission’s Complex within 24 months.’”

“The payment was reportedly made on 11 August 2020. But ‘the contract was inflated by over ₦6.9 billion [₦6,930,000.000.00]’, and the money was reportedly paid to the construction company on 29 November 2023’ ‘for the conversion of the roof garden to office space.’”

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“The contract was reportedly awarded without a Bill of Quantity (BOQ) for the upward of the contract, and the ‘BOQ for the contract of ₦11.6 billion was not priced.’”

“Both contracts were reportedly awarded without any needs assessment, newspaper advertisements, bidding process, contract agreement, bidders’ quotations and without any approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). There was also no ‘Bureau of Public Procurement’ Certificate of ‘No Objection.”

“The Auditor-General fears the ₦18.6 billion of public funds budgeted for ‘the construction of the Commission’s Office Complex and the conversion of the roof garden to office space’ may have been diverted, misappropriated or stolen. He wants the money accounted for.”

“These grave violations reflect the continuing failure of the National Assembly and its commission to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.”

“Granting the reliefs sought would ensure that those suspected to be responsible for the diversion and misappropriation of the ₦18.6 billion are brought to justice and facilitate the recovery of any proceeds of corruption.”

“Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the high economic and social costs of corruption. Corruption exposes them to additional costs to pay for health, education and administrative services.”

“Corruption traps the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprives them of opportunities. The National Assembly, therefore, has a responsibility to curb it.”

“Allegations of corruption continue to undermine economic development, violate social justice, and destroy trust in economic, social, and political institutions, as well as lead to deficient public services.”

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

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“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the National Assembly and its commission to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution.”

“Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), the National Assembly and its commission have the obligations to ‘harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy’, and to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen.’”

“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources.”

“Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the National Assembly to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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37 kidnap victims regain freedom in Katsina after peace deal with bandits

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November 30, 2025

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No fewer than 37 people k!dnapped by bandits in Bakori Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina have been freed by their abductors.

Vanguard reports that the lawmaker representing Bakori constituency at the State House of Assembly, Abdulrahman Kandarawa, disclosed this to newsmen in Katsina on Friday,November 28.

According to him, the victims , comprising 17 women, two children and 18 men, regained freedom following a peace deal with bandits in the area.

He explained that the kidnap victims were released without payment of ransom as part of the agreement reached during the dialogue.

The lawmaker said that with the development, “no kidnapped victim from Bakori still with the kidnappers, except if we are not aware of them.”

“I want to assure you that, at the moment, there are no more victims in the forest from this local government area.

Therefore, I am appealing to the people in our communities to maintain the relative peace we are presently enjoying.” he said.

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PHOTOS: Three NURTW officials arrested for causing road crash that claimed nine lives in Benue

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3 hours ago

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November 30, 2025

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The Benue State Police Command has arrested three officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Katsina-Ala branch, over their alleged role in a crash that claimed the lives of nine passengers.

The incident occurred on Friday, November 28, at Amaafu military checkpoint along Katsina-Ala highway.

The spokesperson for the state command, DSP Udeme Edet, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday said the NURTW officials allegedly blocked the highway, causing severe traffic disruption that triggered the fatal crash.

“Benue State Command strongly warns against the unlawful obstruction of public highways, following a tragic multiple-vehicle accident that claimed nine (9) lives and left several others injured on 28th November 2025, along Katsina-Ala highway,” the statement read.

“The accident, which occurred at about 20:15hrs, involved a MAN diesel truck with registration number TARABA ARD 967XA and multiple other vehicles, after members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Katsina-Ala branch, allegedly blocked the highway, causing severe traffic disruption that triggered the fatal crash.

“Victims were rushed to Toro Hospital, Katsina-Ala, for treatment, while deceased bodies were deposited at the General Hospital.

“The Chairman of NURTW, Katsina-Ala branch, Aja Vanger ‘M’, along with two members, Stephen Kahungur ‘M’ and Saater Vihiga ‘M’, who allegedly caused the obstruction, have been arrested and are currently in custody.”

Edet said the suspects would be prosecuted upon completion of the investigation.

While reiterating that the command frowns upon blocking highways, Edet described such acts as “criminal offences that endanger public safety and will attract decisive legal consequences.”

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The Command, therefore, urged all road users and transport operators to prioritise safety, obey traffic regulations, and avoid actions that endanger lives.

The command also expressed empathy to the affected families and assured them that the law would be enforced firmly to prevent future tragedies.

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US Spy Plane Conducts Reconnaissance Over Borno To Monitor ISWAP Under Nigeria Military Deal, Expert Says

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3 hours ago

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November 30, 2025

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Asecurity expert, tracker, and a jihadi expert with special focus on the Sahel, Brant Philip, has claimed that the United States has begun conducting operations inside Nigeria as part of an agreement with the Nigerian government aimed at tackling escalating terrorism.

He stated on Saturday that a United States aircraft carried out an operation in Borno State, noting that the aircraft took off from Accra, Ghana.

“Confirming my earlier reports, a manned US ISR aircraft was conducting reconnaissance earlier today over ISWAP territory in southwestern Lake Chad, Borno State, northeast Nigeria, it originally took off from Accra, Ghana and is currently on its way back,” he wrote on X.

Earlier on Thursday, Brant had stated, “The US Department of War is already conducting reconnaissance operations in western Nigeria from their base in Ghana, without (any public) permission announced by the Nigerian government, possible agreements being signed behind closed doors.”

He further added, “According to a private source familiar with the military deal between the US and Nigeria, the US will be allowed to conduct UAV airstrikes against terrorist targets inside Nigeria, the scope only include unmanned aircrafts (UAVs), not fighter jets or bombers.

“The American counterpart will mainly fill the ISR gaps of the Nigerian army with manned and/or unmanned aircrafts, and will likely (still unconfirmed) use the Kainji Air Base in Niger State as a launchpad.”

On Sunday afternoon, he wrote again that the United States ISR aircraft had returned to spy over ISWAP’s Mantiqah Krinwa.

“The US Air Force ISR aircraft returned for the third day in a row to spy over ISWAP’s “Mantiqah Krinwa” in Borno state on the fringes of Lake Chad, northeast Nigeria, the aircraft is currently circling over the area and took off from Accra, Ghana, as usual,” he said.

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Reacting to his posts, former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad condemned the disclosures and accused Brant of revealing sensitive information to ISWAP.

“Stop exposing this vital information to ISWAP please,” he wrote on Saturday.

Following the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by Donald Trump over alleged genocide against Christians, the Nigerian government rejected the label and subsequently sent a delegation to the US.

In a publication on its war website, the United States provided details of the meeting.

The statement was issued by the Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor, Sean Parnell.

“On Nov. 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed a delegation of security leaders from the Federal Republic of Nigeria led by their National Security Advisor, Mr. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the Pentagon,” the statement said.

“Both leaders discussed ways to make tangible progress on stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria and combatting West African jihadist terrorist groups.”

“Secretary Hegseth emphasized the need for Nigeria to demonstrate commitment and take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians and conveyed the Department’s desire to work by, with, and through Nigeria to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States,” it added.

Members of the Nigerian delegation included Mr. Ribadu; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. E.A.P. Undiendeye; Special Adviser to the NSA, Idayat Hassan; Director of Foreign Relations, ONSA, Ibrahim Babani; Acting Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Nigeria, Nuru Biu; and the head of the Political and Economic Section, Embassy of Nigeria, Paul Alabi.

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Before the meeting, the US President had threatened to carry out a military operation in Nigeria to wipe out those he described as “Islamic terrorists”.

As of the time of this report, aside from Brant’s posts, neither the Nigerian government nor the United States had issued any official statement confirming a US military operation on Nigerian soil.

Trump’s threat of military action has been widely rejected by the Nigerian Presidency and has sparked controversy across the country.

Kidnapping for ransom, killings, and banditry continue to occur daily, leaving Nigerians to grapple with the widespread insecurity.

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