The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu for his failure to prevent former governors, now serving as ministers in his administration, from receiving life pensions and other retirement benefits from their states.
The ministers mentioned in the lawsuit are: Nyesom Wike (former governor of River State and FCT Minister); David Umahi (former governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works); and Badaru Abubakar (former governor of Jigawa State and Minister of Defence).
Others include: Bello Matawalle (former governor of Zamfara State and Minister of State for Defence); Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola (former governor of Osun State and Minister of Transportation); Simon Bako Lalong (former governor of Plateau State and Minister of Labour and Employment); Atiku Bagudu (former governor of Kebbi State and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning); and Ibrahim Geidam (former governor of Yole State and Minister of Police of Affairs).
SERAP had previously requested Tinubu to instruct these former governors to cease collecting such benefits and return any received funds to the public treasury.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1855/2023 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking a court order mandating President Tinubu to stop the former governors from receiving these benefits while serving as ministers.
They argued that “Compelling and directing President Tinubu to stop the former governors from collecting any ‘retirement benefits’ while serving as ministers would serve the public interest, especially given the current grave economic realities in the country.
According to them, “While many pensioners are not paid their pensions, former governors serving as ministers get paid huge severance benefits upon leaving office, and are poised to enjoy double emoluments on top of the opulence of political office holders.”
The case was filed on behalf of SERAP by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, with eight ministers, including those mentioned, as defendants. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.