The organization noted that when a court finds public funds were spent in breach of procurement laws and constitutional provisions, especially in cases involving self-dealing and conflicts of interest, the rule of law requires that such benefits be reversed and fully accounted for.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas a seven-day ultimatum to ensure lawmakers refund all monies, allowances, and benefits received from the N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes, which a Federal High Court has declared unlawful.
SERAP urged Mr Akpabio, Mr Abbas and the National Assembly "to immediately establish effective mechanisms to ensure that all future procurements and expenditure of public funds comply strictly with due process requirements and are guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money."
SERAP also urged them "to institutionalise public hearings on the lawmakers' budget during every budget cycle and proactively publish the National Assembly's detailed budgetary and expenditure information to enhance transparency, strengthen public confidence, and promote meaningful public participation in the budgeting process."
