Code of Conduct Bureau sued for failure to probe abuse of office

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over failure to investigate the allegations that certain lawmakers improperly removed key sections on electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill during plenary and unlawfully altered some aspects of the tax reform bills.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/634/2026 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the CCB to probe the allegations that certain lawmakers improperly removed key sections on electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

“An order of mandamus to direct and compel the CCB to probe the allegations that certain lawmakers and officers of the executive branch unlawfully altered some aspects of the tax reform bills, which resulted in differences between the tax laws passed by lawmakers and the gazetted copy available to the public.

“An order of mandamus to direct and compel the CCB to refer any substantiated violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers deriving from the outcome of its investigation to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for prosecution and to uphold the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “Granting the reliefs sought would help address critical concerns relating to conflict of interest, abuse of office, non-disclosure of interests, and reinforce adherence to due process. It would serve to curb the erosion of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in the exercise of legislative powers.

“Where lawmaking is shaped by abuse of office and conflict of interest, it ceases to be a legitimate exercise of constitutional and fiduciary responsibility and becomes a legal and ethical infraction prohibited under the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

“The Code of Conduct for Public Officers is a constitutional imperative designed to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in public life.

“This means that any credible allegation of breach must be promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigated by the CCB.

“Public officers hold their offices in trust for the people and must not deploy official power for personal or sectional advantage.”

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo,

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.