The Federal Government has asked Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) to send the full list of former governors and
ministers that have received and/or receiving double pay and life pensions in
order to enhance and ensure compliance with the judgment of the court.
The letter followed the judgment which ordered the
government to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws and recover public
funds collected by former governors and ministers.
SERAP had earlier sent a letter to Abukabar Malami, SAN, the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, asking him to
advise and persuade President Muhammadu Buhari fully enforce the judgment.
In his reply to SERAP, Malami said: “Kindly refer to your
letter dated 6th December, 2019. I am writing to inform your esteemed
organization to furnish me with the full list of the former governors and
ministers which are affected by the judgment by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, in
order to enhance and ensure compliance with the ruling of the Honourable Court.
Please, treat with utmost urgency.”
Malami’s letter with reference number
MJ/LIT/ABJ/CMC/661/793, was signed on his behalf by Anne C. Akwiwu (Mrs),
Director Civil Litigation and Public Law Department.
Responding, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said:
“We welcome your request for the full list of former governors and ministers.
Any further delay in the enforcement of the judgment will continue to undermine
the authority and integrity of the Nigerian judiciary. Nigerians cannot wait
for you to take legal action to scrap states’ pension laws and fully recover
the public funds collected.”
SERAP said immediate obedience to the judgment will be a
victory for the rule, and provide an impetus for the government’s
anti-corruption fight.
The group added that it will also be a rare piece of good
news for the people of Nigeria, as it will send a powerful message to former
governors and ministers that have collected and/or collecting double pay that
they will be held to account for their actions, and mark the end of this
state-level impunity.
SERAP noted that by implementing the judgment, the Buhari
government will be demonstrating the important role that our judiciary can play
in the fight against corruption in the country.
It recalled that former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki
stated that he stopped collecting pensions while in the Senate the moment he
saw the allegation by SERAP.
“However, it is unclear if he has returned all the public
funds collected as pension from Kwara State.
“According to public records, the following are reportedly
collecting and/or have collected double emoluments and large severance benefits
from their states: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill
Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu
(Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), and Jonah Jang
(Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe);
Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi); and George Akume (Benue).
“So far, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and
Employment, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi, former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and Rotimi Amaechi,
Minister of Transportation have denied ever receiving double payments and
retirement benefits as former governors.
“Similarly, public records also show that at least 22 states
have passed life pensions laws allowing payment of life pensions to former
governors and other ex-public officials. These states include: Akwa Ibom,
Lagos, Edo, Delta, Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Abia, Imo, Bayelsa, Oyo,
Osun, Kwara, Ondo, Ebonyi, Rivers, Niger, Kogi and Katsina.
“In your legal action, we urge you to focus on challenging
the pension laws in these states while taking steps to verify the number of
former governors and ministers that have collected and/or still collecting
double payments and retirement benefits, the amount collected with a view to
ensuring the full recovery of the public funds collected,” the group said.
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo in suit number
FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 delivered a landmark judgment in December 2019, ordered the
Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors now
serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.
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