The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the controversial National Assembly N110 billion vehicle and allowance scheme, ruling that the spending plan violated procurement laws, constitutional obligations and the public trust.
In a landmark judgment delivered on May 6, 2026, Justice Yellim Bogoro held that the planned expenditure of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members breached statutory procurement standards and amounted to self-dealing.
The case was filed in August 2023 by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas following the National Assembly’s decision to allocate N110 billion for vehicles and support packages for lawmakers.
Justice Bogoro ruled that the scale of the expenditure, coupled with the absence of evidence of due process, rendered the procurement arbitrary and inconsistent with the requirements of the Public Procurement Act.
According to the judgment, the beneficiaries of the spending were the same officials responsible for approving it, creating a conflict of interest. The court held that such conduct amounted to self-dealing and undermined the fiduciary duty owed to Nigerians.
The judge also took judicial notice of the country’s economic hardship, stating that allocating N110 billion for lawmakers’ benefit reflected a failure to prioritise the national interest at a time when many citizens were facing severe financial challenges.
Rejecting arguments that legislative autonomy shielded the spending from judicial scrutiny, the court stressed that the doctrine of separation of powers cannot be used to protect unlawful actions.
Justice Bogoro further held that public procurement must be guided by transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money. She noted that the defendants failed to provide credible evidence of compliance with procurement procedures, competitive bidding requirements or value-for-money assessments.
The court also found that the expenditure breached the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and was inconsistent with the oath of office sworn by members of the National Assembly.
On preliminary objections raised by the defendants, the court ruled that SERAP had the legal standing to institute the action, recognising the growing role of public interest litigation in Nigeria. The judge also held that the matter was not academic despite the argument that the funds had already been spent, noting that declaratory reliefs remain valid even after the completion of the disputed act.
As part of the judgment, the court ordered Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas to ensure that all future procurements and public spending by the National Assembly strictly comply with due process requirements and adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money.
Reacting to the ruling, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare described the decision as a major victory for transparency, accountability and responsible management of public resources. He urged the National Assembly to comply fully with the judgment.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also welcomed the verdict, saying it reaffirmed that public officials cannot justify lavish spending while many Nigerians struggle with poverty and economic hardship.
The judgment is expected to reignite debate over legislative spending, public accountability and the management of public funds in Nigeria.
