SERAP Sues CCB Over Failure To Probe Alleged Electoral, Tax Law Alterations
07 April, 2026 | News
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), seeking a court order to compel the agency to investigate alleged abuse of office involving lawmakers and government officials.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/634/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is requesting an order of mandamus directing the CCB to probe claims that certain lawmakers removed key provisions on the electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.
The organisation is also asking the court to compel the bureau to investigate allegations that some lawmakers and executive officials altered aspects of recently passed tax reform laws, resulting in discrepancies between the versions approved by the National Assembly and those officially gazetted.
SERAP further urged the court to mandate the CCB to refer any confirmed violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for prosecution, stressing the need to uphold accountability in public office.
According to SERAP, granting the requested reliefs would address concerns related to conflict of interest, abuse of office, and lack of transparency in the lawmaking process. The group argued that when legislation is influenced by personal or political interests, it undermines constitutional responsibilities and violates ethical standards.
The suit, filed by lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Andrew Nwankwo, emphasises that public officials are bound by constitutional rules and must not use their positions for personal gain. It added that these obligations apply equally to members of the legislature and the executive.
SERAP maintained that the Code of Conduct provisions are designed to ensure integrity and transparency in governance, insisting that no public officer is above the law.
The organisation also cited allegations that changes to both the Electoral Act amendment and tax reform laws were made without proper debate or legislative approval, raising concerns about due process and legality.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the case.