Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has told President Bola Tinubu to emulate the good example of governor Alex Otti of Abia State by immediately obeying the judgment ordering the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors and their deputies.
SERAP disclosed this on Sunday in a statement by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Recall that Otti has assented to the bill stopping the payment of pension to ex-governors and their deputies.
Reacting to the development, SERAP urged Tinubu’s government to obey the judgment, dated 26 November, 2019, delivered by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo mandating formers governors and their deputies to refund pension paid to them.
“Justice Oguntoyinbo also granted ‘AN ORDER of mandamus compelling and directing the Attorney General to urgently institute appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws permitting former governors, serving as senators and ministers to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.
“Justice Oguntoyinbo also indicated that double emoluments for former governors are unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal.
“We urge you to emulate the good example of governor Otti by urgently obeying the judgment, something which former president Muhammadu Buhari blatantly failed to do.
“Unless the judgment is immediately obeyed, former governors and their deputies, including those now serving as ministers in your administration and members of the National Assembly who receive pensions would continue to evade justice for their actions,” SERAP said
