The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the National Assembly’s controversial ₦110 billion expenditure on lawmakers’ vehicles and support allowances, ruling that the spending violated procurement laws, constitutional obligations, and principles of public accountability.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro in a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), specifically nullified:
- ₦40 billion allocated for the procurement of 465 vehicles for members of the National Assembly.
- ₦70 billion approved as support allowances for newly elected lawmakers.
The court held that the expenditures failed to comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and constitutional standards governing the use of public funds.
Justice Bogoro also rejected arguments that legislative independence shielded the National Assembly from judicial review, stating that the doctrine of separation of powers cannot be used to justify unlawful actions.
In the ruling, the court noted Nigeria’s difficult economic circumstances and questioned the justification for allocating such a large amount of public money for lawmakers’ benefit during a period of widespread hardship.
The judgment further directed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that future procurements and expenditures by the National Assembly strictly comply with due process, transparency, accountability, and value-for-money principles.
SERAP welcomed the decision as a major victory for transparency and responsible management of public resources, while human rights lawyer Femi Falana described the ruling as an important affirmation that public office should not be used for excessive personal benefit amid widespread poverty.
The ruling is likely to intensify public debate over legislative spending, government accountability, and the use of public funds as Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges and demands for fiscal discipline.
