SOCIO-Economic Rights and Accountability Project – SERAP, has filed a contempt suit against the Federal Government for failing to recover over N40 billion double pay and life pensions from former governors who are serving as lawmakers and ministers.
SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, made this known in a statement on Sunday.
The rights group regretted that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari had failed to implement the judgement.
Justice Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, Lagos ordered the Federal Government in November 2019 to “recover life pensions collected by former governors serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.”
Justice Oguntoyinbo also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami to “challenge the legality of states’ life pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to collect such pensions.”
“It’s unacceptable to take the court, which is the guardian of justice in this country, for a ride. A democratic state based on the rule of law cannot exist or function, if the government routinely ignores and/or fails to abide by court orders,” the statement read.
“Despite the service of the certified true copy of the judgement of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Buhari administration has failed and/or refused to obey it.
“While many Nigerian workers and pensioners have not been paid by state governors for several months and struggle to make ends meet, former governors continue to collect double emoluments and enjoy opulent lifestyles.”
