The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared the National Assembly’s N110 billion plan to buy SUVs and pay allowances to lawmakers unlawful, ruling that the expenditure breached procurement laws, the Constitution, and public trust.
In a judgment delivered Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the court, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro held that the National Assembly’s plan to spend N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion on support allowances for newly elected members was arbitrary, disproportionate and inconsistent with statutory procurement standards.
The court ordered the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that all future procurements or expenditure of public funds by the National Assembly comply strictly with due process requirements and are guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money.”
The suit, designated FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, was filed in August 2023 by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the National Assembly.
SERAP sued Akpabio and Abbas, for themselves and on behalf of members of both chambers, after reports emerged of plans to spend N40 billion on 465 vehicles at about N305 million each, and N70 billion in allowances for new lawmakers amid worsening economic hardship.
“The beneficiaries of the expenditure are the very officials approving it. This constitutes a case of self-dealing and conflict of interest.
“The allocation of N110 billion for the benefit of lawmakers demonstrates a failure to prioritise national interest and undermines the fiduciary duty owed to the Nigerian people.
“The spending breached Section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which mandates economy, efficiency, and public interest.
“The court found no evidence of competitive bidding or value-for-money assessment. The spending violated paragraph 1, Part 1, Fifth Schedule (Code of Conduct for Public Officers) and the Oath of Office under the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” the judge held.
The court dismissed the National Assembly’s arguments that the case was academic or that SERAP lacked standing.
Justice Bogoro held that “NGOs can institute actions to protect public interest and that the doctrine of separation of powers does not operate as a shield for illegality.”
The judge made a declaration that the N40 billion plan to buy 465 bullet-proof SUVs breached the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the Oath of Office, a declaration that the N70 billion support allowance breached lawmakers’ constitutional obligations and duty of care to Nigerians,
an order directing the National Assembly to ensure future spending complies with due process, transparency, accountability, and value for money.
