Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Wednesday said it has obtained a landmark judgment from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, ordering the Federal Government to recover life pensions collected by some former governors serving as ministers and senators.
Some of the affected former governors include:
Bukola Saraki, Godswill Akpabio, Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Theodore Orji, Abdullahi Adamu, Sam Egwu, Shaaba Lafiagi, Joshua Dariye, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Sani Yarima, Danjuma Goje, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Adamu Aliero, George Akume, Biodun Olujimi, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Kayode Fayemi and Chris Ngige.
The court directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to institute appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws permitting former governors, who are now senators and ministers to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.
The ruling came from a suit instituted by SERAP against the Federal Government in 2017 over its “failure to stop former governors from receiving double pay and life pensions.”
According to SERAP, “We’ve obtained a landmark judgment from the Federal High Court ordering Nigerian government to recover life pensions collected by Saraki, Akpabio, others and directing the Attorney General of the Federation to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors to collect such pensions.
“The court has adjourned to February 3, 2020 for report of compliance with the judgment by the Federal Government.
“We won’t rest until this judgment is fully enforced and ALL state governors follow the Zamfara State example by immediately abolishing pension laws in their states.”
SERAP has also sued the Federal Government for failing to seek the recovery of over “N40bn unduly received by the former governors” who are now serving senators and ministers.
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