A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion expenditure on lawmakers’ vehicles and allowances unlawful, ruling that the spending violated procurement regulations, constitutional provisions, and the principles of accountability in public service.
In a landmark judgment delivered on May 6, 2026, Justice Yellim Bogoro held that the planned expenditure of N40 billion for the purchase of 465 vehicles for federal lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected legislators breached the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the constitutional oath of office.
The case, marked FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, was instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the National Assembly leadership, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The court further directed the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that all future spending and procurement processes strictly comply with due process requirements and are guided by transparency, accountability, and value for money.
Justice Bogoro noted that the country’s worsening economic conditions and widespread hardship made the N110 billion allocation difficult to justify. According to the judge, public officials are expected to prioritize the national interest and exercise their responsibilities within constitutional limits.
The court rejected arguments by the defendants that legislative autonomy shielded the expenditure from judicial scrutiny, stressing that the doctrine of separation of powers cannot be used to protect actions that may be unlawful or unconstitutional.
The judge held that SERAP had the legal standing to bring the suit, describing the organization as a public-interest body committed to promoting transparency and accountability. She also ruled that the matter was not academic despite claims that the funds had already been spent, noting that courts can still issue declaratory judgments on completed actions when important constitutional questions are involved.
Justice Bogoro found that the National Assembly failed to provide evidence showing compliance with procurement procedures, competitive bidding requirements, or value-for-money assessments in relation to the vehicle purchases and allowances.
The court concluded that the expenditure amounted to a breach of Section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act, which requires transparency and accountability in public procurement, and violated provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by granting special benefits inconsistent with public service obligations.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP described the ruling as a major victory for transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public resources. The organization said the judgment reaffirmed that public office is a trust that must be exercised in the interest of citizens.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also welcomed the ruling, stating that it underscored the need for public officials to avoid extravagant spending while millions of Nigerians face economic hardship. He urged the National Assembly to comply with the judgment and called on the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce constitutional provisions governing lawmakers’ salaries and allowances.
In a letter addressed to Akpabio and Abbas after the judgment, SERAP urged the National Assembly to obey the court order without delay, arguing that compliance would strengthen public confidence in the legislature and reinforce the principles of transparency and the rule of law.
Among the key reliefs granted by the court were declarations that the proposed N40 billion vehicle procurement and the N70 billion support allowance allocation were inconsistent with constitutional and statutory requirements governing public spending. The court also issued an order directing lawmakers to ensure that future expenditures are conducted in accordance with due process, transparency, accountability, and value-for-money principles.
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