SERAP Sues Saraki For Paying Dariye N14.2m Monthly

SERAP opined that such payment violates Nigerian law and international obligations. According to the lawsuit, Mr Dar.iye is still receiving the N750,000 Salary and N13.5 million monthly allowances from the Nigerian Senate six months after his conviction.

It can be recalled that in June, 2018 a high court in FCT (Abuja) convicted Dariye for diverting N1.162 billion state ecological funds while he was governor. He was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment which was later reduced to 10 years by a Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Dariye has so far been paid N85.5 million as allowances since his conviction which according to the group, has contradicted all legal provisions in Nigeria.

Also joined as Defendants in the suit are Mr. Dariye and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASSC). In the suit filed last Friday, 21th December, 2018 SERAP accesses Saraki and the NASSC of overriding Nigerian law and the judgment of Nigerian court by continuing to pay Mr. Dariye’s allowances while he serves out a 10-year prison term and unable to sit and perform legislative functions.

The suit further alleged that, this action undermines the rule of law and is a great moral failure because it sends a message that corruption pays. SERAP argued that stopping the Defendants would ensure that only sitting and serving senators are worthy of drawing salaries and allowances from the public treasury. It would also further the public interest and general public confidence in the government it elects.

SERAP further stressed that, unless the reliefs sought are granted, Mr. Saraki and the NASSC will continue to act in flagrant defiance of the judgment of the court, the independence, and authority of the court, and the rule of law. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.