SERAP wins as Court voids National Assembly’s N110bn vehicle, allowance budget

The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion expenditure on vehicles and allowances for lawmakers, ruling that the spending breached procurement regulations, constitutional provisions and principles of transparency and accountability in public finance management.

In a landmark judgment delivered on May 6, 2026, Justice Yellim Bogoro held that the allocation of N40 billion for the purchase of 465 vehicles for members of the National Assembly, alongside N70 billion earmarked as support allowances for newly elected lawmakers, violated statutory procurement standards and undermined public trust.

The court directed Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to ensure that all future procurement exercises and public expenditures undertaken by the legislature strictly comply with due process, transparency, accountability and value-for-money requirements.

The judgment followed a suit instituted in August 2023 by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which challenged the decision of lawmakers to approve the expenditure at a time when millions of Nigerians were facing severe economic hardship.

Justice Bogoro ruled that the scale of the expenditure, coupled with the absence of evidence showing adherence to established procurement procedures, rendered the spending arbitrary, excessive and disproportionate.

According to the court, the arrangement created a conflict of interest because lawmakers served as both beneficiaries and approvers of the expenditure, amounting to what the judge described as self-dealing.

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The court further noted that in light of the country’s prevailing economic challenges, allocating such a substantial amount for the direct benefit of legislators reflected a failure to prioritize the broader national interest.

Justice Bogoro rejected arguments that the doctrine of separation of powers insulated the National Assembly from judicial scrutiny.

The judge held that constitutional and statutory violations remain subject to review by the courts, regardless of the institution involved.

She emphasized that public officials owe Nigerians a fiduciary duty and must exercise public powers in a manner consistent with constitutional obligations and the public interest.

The judgment stressed that public office should never be used as a vehicle for personal enrichment and that officeholders are required to act in good faith, responsibly and within the limits prescribed by law.

The court also dismissed objections raised by the defendants concerning SERAP’s legal standing, the alleged failure to issue a pre-action notice and claims that the case had become academic because the funds had already been spent.

Justice Bogoro ruled that public-interest organizations possess the legal right to institute actions aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and the protection of public resources.

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She further held that the National Assembly failed to provide credible evidence demonstrating compliance with procurement procedures, competitive bidding requirements or value-for-money assessments before approving the expenditure.

Consequently, the court found that the spending violated Section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and constitutional requirements governing the conduct of public officials.

Reacting to the ruling, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the judgment as a major victory for transparency, accountability and prudent management of public funds.

He said the decision reaffirmed the principle that public resources must be expended strictly in the public interest and in compliance with constitutional and statutory provisions.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also welcomed the judgment, stating that it reinforces the need for public officials to avoid extravagant spending while millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with poverty and economic hardship.

Falana urged the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to fully enforce constitutional provisions regulating the remuneration and allowances of lawmakers and called on the National Assembly to comply with the court’s decision without delay.

Following the judgment, SERAP formally wrote to Akpabio and Abbas, urging the leadership of the National Assembly to immediately implement the court’s directives and demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law, transparency and accountability.

Among the reliefs granted, the court declared that the proposed N40 billion expenditure on 465 bulletproof vehicles and the N70 billion support allowance for lawmakers contravened the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and the constitutional oath of office.

The court further ordered that all future expenditures of public funds by the National Assembly must be guided by due process, transparency, accountability and value-for-money principles, setting a precedent for greater scrutiny of public spending by government institutions.