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 violated procurement laws, constitutional provisions, and principles of public accountability.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Justice Yellim Bogoro held that the N40 billion vehicle procurement and N70 billion support allowances for newly elected lawmakers were arbitrary, disproportionate, and failed to meet statutory procurement standards.
The court also directed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to ensure future National Assembly spending strictly complies with due process, transparency, accountability, and value-for-money principles.
Justice Bogoro rejected arguments that legislative autonomy shielded the expenditure from judicial scrutiny, stressing that separation of powers cannot be used to protect illegality. She further described the spending as a conflict of interest because lawmakers approved benefits for themselves despite prevailing economic hardship.
The court upheld SERAP’s standing to bring the case, ruling that public interest organisations can challenge actions affecting accountability and good governance.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP described it as a major victory for transparency and responsible management of public resources, while human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) commended the ruling and called for stricter oversight of lawmakers’ remuneration.
