By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—Constitutional lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, asking it to declare the allowances provided for members of the National Assembly in the Appropriation Act, 2010, illegal, unconstitutional and a quintessential abuse of the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

Falana in a suit he filed before the high court, accused the legislative arm of government in Nigeria of violating section 70 of the 1999 constitution, saying that it was only entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as determined by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Listed as defendants were the Senate, House of Representatives, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Attorney-General of the Federation and  Accountant-General of the Federation, as the 1st to 5th defendants, respectively.

The plaintiff is praying the Federal High Court to make eight separate declarations, among which included a “declaration that the 1st and 2nd defendants (Senate and House of Reps.) were not competent to increase the salaries and allowances of the National Assembly through the Appropriation Act in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.