Court Declares N110bn National Assembly Vehicle, Allowance Scheme Illegal

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared the National Assembly’s N110 billion expenditure on vehicles and support allowances for lawmakers unlawful, ruling that the spending violated procurement laws, constitutional provisions, and principles of transparency and accountability.
Justice Yellim Bogoro, who delivered the judgment on May 6, 2026, held that the allocation of N40 billion for the purchase of 465 vehicles for members of the National Assembly and N70 billion as support allowances for newly elected lawmakers contravened the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the oath of office taken by public officials.
The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, was instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in August 2023 against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. SERAP challenged the planned expenditure, arguing that it was inappropriate amid the country’s economic difficulties.
In his ruling, Justice Bogoro described the spending as arbitrary and disproportionate, noting that lawmakers who approved the allocations were also direct beneficiaries. He held that the arrangement amounted to self-dealing and a conflict of interest, as those responsible for authorising the expenditure stood to gain from it.
The court further observed that the allocations failed to reflect national priorities at a time when millions of Nigerians were grappling with economic hardship.
Rejecting the argument that legislative autonomy placed the matter beyond judicial scrutiny, the judge maintained that the principle of separation of powers could not be used to shield actions that violate the law. He stressed that the court’s concern was the legality and constitutionality of the expenditure.
Justice Bogoro also found that the National Assembly failed to provide evidence showing compliance with procurement regulations, including competitive bidding processes and value-for-money assessments.
The court upheld SERAP’s right to file the suit, affirming that public interest organisations can seek judicial intervention in matters affecting the wider public. It also ruled that the case remained valid despite the funds having already been spent, noting that courts retain the power to issue declaratory judgments after a disputed action has been completed.
Consequently, the court declared both the N40 billion vehicle procurement scheme and the N70 billion support allowance package unconstitutional and unlawful. It also directed the National Assembly to ensure that future procurement and spending processes strictly comply with due process, transparency, accountability, and value-for-money standards.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare described the ruling as a major victory for transparency and accountability in public finance management. He urged the leadership of the National Assembly to comply fully with the court’s decision.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also welcomed the judgment, saying it reaffirmed the principle that public funds must be used in the public interest. He called on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to exercise its constitutional powers over lawmakers’ salaries and allowances, while urging the National Assembly to obey the court order.
Falana added that reducing wasteful government expenditure would make more resources available for critical sectors such as security, intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and social welfare programmes.