Falana Urges Akpabio, Other Ex-Govs To Copy Daniel, Dankwambo | Pensions | Veegil Media

By Odiawa Ai

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has encouraged the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and other former Lead Representatives in the executive and legislature to copy the examples of Senators Daniel and Dankwambo by dismissing the installment of "unlawful benefits" forthwith.

Falana, who is the chairman of Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond, settled on the decision in a statement on Sunday.

The senior lawyer made known that in consistence with court decisions, "Senators Gbenga Daniel and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo have requested the governors of Ogun and Gombe States, respectively, to stop paying them the scandalous pension."

He lauded Daniel and Dankwambo, saying that their action is exceptionally estimable when at least 20 previous Lead Representatives in the executive and legislative arms of government are getting double compensations.

As per Falana, in a milestone judgment delivered on November 26, 2019, Justcie Oluremi Oguntoyinbo (currently retired) made known the payments of the benefits unlawful and illegal.

"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," the assertion read to some extent.

Falana has been vocal against the payment of pension to ex-Lead Representatives, particularly those chosen as legislators or appointed in the Federal Executive after their residencies as Lead Representative.

Daniel filled in as Ogun State Lead Representative from 2003 to 2011 and is presently filling in as the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, while Dankwambo filled in as Lead Representative of Gombe State from 2011 to 2019 and currently filling in as the Senator representing Gombe North Senatorial District.