Mobolaji Michael
HUMAN rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio as well as all former governors who now occupy either executive or legislative positions to emulate their former colleagues Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo by rejecting the payment of the illegal pension forthwith.
Otunba Daniel and Senator Dankwambo had served as governors in Ogun and Gombe states respectively but are presently serving senators. They had both publicly announced their decision to collect pensions from their respective states while serving as lawmakers.
However, Mr Falana, in a statement at the weekend enjoined Senator Akpabio who had served as governor in Akwa Ibom State as well as about 20 others either in the National Assembly or holding ministerial positions to take a cue from the duo of Otunba Daniel and Senator Dankwambo.
Mr Falana also pointed out that two courts had ruled against the practice of collection of double payment. According to him, “in suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) v Attorney-General of the Federation) filed at the Federal High Court, the plaintiff challenged the constitutional validity of the scandalous pension paid to former governors in Nigeria.
“In a landmark judgment delivered on 26 November 2019, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo (now retired) declared the payment of the pension illegal and unconstitutional. Consequently, the court ordered the Accountant-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to recover the life pensions collected by former governors serving as senators and ministers.
“Similarly, in suit No: NICN/JOS/26/2016 (Alhaji Garba Umar v Taraba State Government) Justice K. I. Amadi of the National Industrial Court declared as null and void the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors. The pension was provided for in Taraba State Governor and Deputy Governor’s Pension Law 2015″.
Mr Falana, who is the Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, described the action of the two former governors as “highly commendable at a time when not less than 20 former governors in the executive and legislative branches of government are receiving double salaries”.
“In view of the foregoing, we call on Senator Akpabio and other former governors in the executive and legislature to emulate the example of Senators Daniel and Dankwambo by rejecting the payment of the illegal pension forthwith”.
Eighteen-Eleven Media