A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the National Assembly’s ₦110bn expenditure on vehicles and allowances for lawmakers, ruling that the spending breached procurement regulations and constitutional standards, according to a judgment reported by The PUNCH.
Justice Yellim Bogoro, in a ruling delivered on 6 May 2026, held that the proposed ₦40bn allocation for 465 vehicles and ₦70bn in support allowances for newly elected lawmakers violated the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and constitutional oath obligations.
The case, filed as FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, was brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The court found that the scale of the spending lacked evidence of due process, competitive bidding and value-for-money compliance, describing the arrangement as inconsistent with statutory procurement standards.
Justice Bogoro also ruled that lawmakers stood to benefit directly from the expenditure they approved, describing it as a conflict of interest and self-dealing.
The court further dismissed arguments by the National Assembly that the matter was not justiciable, holding that separation of powers does not protect unlawful actions from judicial scrutiny.
It also affirmed SERAP’s legal standing to bring the case, recognising public interest litigation as valid in matters affecting accountability and governance.
The National Assembly had argued that the funds were duly appropriated and the suit was academic, but the court rejected those claims.
SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare described the ruling as a victory for transparency and accountability in public finance, urging immediate compliance.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana also welcomed the judgment, saying it highlighted the gap between public spending priorities and economic hardship faced by citizens.
The court ordered that future procurement and spending by the National Assembly must comply strictly with due process, transparency and accountability standards.
