In a landmark judgment, the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion expenditure on vehicles and allowances for lawmakers was unlawful, citing violations of procurement laws, constitutional obligations, and the public trust.
Justice Yellim Bogoro held that the spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected lawmakers failed to meet statutory procurement standards and amounted to a conflict of interest, as the beneficiaries were directly involved in approving the expenditure.
The court further ordered 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 due process, transparency, accountability, and value-for-money principles.
The suit was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which challenged the spending amid widespread economic hardship across the country.
Justice Bogoro emphasized that legislative autonomy cannot serve as a shield for illegality, noting that public office must never be used for personal enrichment and that government spending must reflect the national interest, particularly during difficult economic times.
