Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion vehicle procurement and allowance scheme, ruling that the expenditure violated procurement regulations, constitutional provisions, and the public trust.
Justice Yellim Bogoro delivered the judgment on May 6, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023 filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the National Assembly. A certified true copy of the ruling was made available on Sunday.
The court held that the planned expenditure of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members failed to comply with due process requirements and statutory procurement standards.
Justice Bogoro further directed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that all future National Assembly procurements and public expenditures strictly adhere to principles of transparency, accountability, due process, and value for money.
According to the judgment, the scale of the spending, coupled with the absence of evidence showing compliance with procurement procedures, rendered the expenditure arbitrary and disproportionate.
“The beneficiaries of the expenditure are the very officials approving it, and the expenditure confers direct pecuniary and material benefits,” the judge held. “This constitutes a case of self-dealing and conflict of interest.”
The court also took judicial notice of Nigeria’s economic challenges, noting that allocating N110 billion for lawmakers’ benefits at a time of widespread hardship reflected a failure to prioritize national interest.
Justice Bogoro rejected arguments by the defendants that legislative autonomy shielded the spending from judicial scrutiny, emphasizing that the doctrine of separation of powers cannot be used to justify illegality.
“The court is concerned with the legality and constitutionality of legislative spending,” she stated, adding that public office must not be used for personal enrichment and that public officials are obligated to act within constitutional boundaries and in good faith.
SERAP had instituted the suit in August 2023 after reports emerged that lawmakers planned to spend N40 billion on 465 bulletproof vehicles and N70 billion on support allowances despite worsening economic conditions in the country.
The organization argued that the expenditure violated provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and the oath of office prescribed under the 1999 Constitution.
In its defence, the National Assembly maintained that the spending was lawful, duly appropriated, and had already been executed. The defendants also challenged the court’s jurisdiction and questioned SERAP’s legal standing to bring the action.
However, Justice Bogoro ruled that SERAP had the requisite locus standi, noting that Nigerian law now recognizes public-interest litigation and allows non-governmental organizations to pursue cases aimed at protecting public interest.
The court also dismissed objections regarding the absence of a pre-action notice, holding that such requirements may be waived in matters involving urgency, public interest, or fundamental rights.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare described the ruling as a major victory for transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also welcomed the decision, commending SERAP for pursuing the case and arguing that extravagant benefits for lawmakers amid widespread hardship could not be justified.
The court ultimately declared that the vehicle procurement and support allowances breached the Public Procurement Act, Code of Conduct provisions, and constitutional obligations, while ordering stricter compliance with due process in future legislative spending.
