Two ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Lawmakers, Senator Abubakar Danladi, and the erstwhile Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Hon. Herman Hembe, are to refund N1.1 billion to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki-led National Assembly.
Recall, that the duo were disgracefully sacked by the Supreme Court, on Friday.
This is sequel to a judgement of the apex court, which ordered that the Lawmakers should within 90 days, return all the salaries and allowances received in the last two years of their illegal stay in the National Assembly.
While the sacked senator is to refund N702 million, Hembe is to return N470 million, to the Legislative body.
According to information obtained from the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, on salaries of members of the National Assembly, the basic salary of a Member of the House is N165, 434.37 per month, but when added to other allowances, it amounts to N793, 832.12.
A Member of the House is entitled to a basic salary of N1,985,213.50 million, but cumulatively, they receive N9, 525,985.50 million.
Investigations showed that Hembe had received salaries and allowances for 23 months, meaning that he had received a total of N219,097,667 million in salaries and allowances.
Apart from these, a House of Representatives Member goes home with N23,822,00.00 within the four years of his tenure, in form of accommodation, vehicles allowance, and other miscellaneous, indicating that, in the last two years, Hembe might have collected about N5,955,500 for these allowances.
On his part, Danladi will refund about N366.873 million, which he collected in salaries and allowances, from June 2015, to date.
A Senator is entitled to N2,026,400 million basic salaries annually, but with other allowances, he receives N12,902,360 million, annually.
Hence, in the 23 months that Danladi enjoyed salaries and allowances, he had received over N366 million as salaries.
Besides, Senators are said to be receiving N48 million quarterly as Constituency allowances, while members of the House are said to be paid N35 million quarterly.
Therefore, if the sacked Lawmakers are also to refund the Constituency allowances, Senator Danladi will be made to cough out N336 million for the seven quarters, just as Hembe will refund N245 million.
The apex court had also ordered the INEC to withdraw the certificate issued to the sacked Lawmakers, and issued a fresh Certificate of Return to the new people.
“This court therefore, ordered that the appellant be issued with the Certificate of Return and the respondent should immediately vacate the seat, as well as return to the National Assembly all salaries and allowances received within 90 days.”
