The Federal Government, as well as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), have been sued for contempt by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, “for failing to recover over N40 billion double pay and life pensions from former governors who are serving as lawmakers and ministers.”
In November 2019, Justice Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued an injunction directing the Federal Government to “recover life pensions collected by former governors serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.”
Additionally, Justice Oguntoyinbo ordered Mr Malami to “challenge the legality of states’ life pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to collect such pensions.”
The judgment hasn't been carried out by President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, though. During a court session organized in her honour to mark her retirement from the bench last month, Justice Oguntoyinbo expressed "regret" that the ruling had not been carried out.
She stated, “I remember with pride my landmark judgement in SERAP vs. The Attorney-General. Regrettably, that order is yet to be obeyed. I find it very disappointing that Court orders are often not obeyed. If there’s anything I wish to change, it is the impunity towards judicial decisions and the disrespect for the bench.”
The following is a portion of Form 48, the notification of consequences for disobeying court orders: “Unless you obey the orders of the court contained on the reverse side of this process you shall be deemed to have disobeyed the orders of the court and shall be liable to committed to prison for contempt.”
The statement, read in part, “Despite the service of the certified true copy of the judgement on 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.”
