Court Declares National Assembly’s N110bn SUV, Allowance Unlawful

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion vehicle procurement and allowance scheme unlawful, ruling that the expenditure breached procurement regulations, constitutional provisions, and principles of public accountability.

The judgment held that the spending of N40 billion on 465 official vehicles for lawmakers and an additional N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members violated due process requirements and public finance standards.

Delivering the ruling on May 6, 2026, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023 ordered the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure strict compliance with procurement laws in all future expenditures.

The court specifically directed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that all future procurements of public funds adhere strictly to transparency, accountability, and value-for-money principles.

The case was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which challenged the legality of the large-scale spending on vehicles and allowances for federal lawmakers.

In its decision, the court emphasized that public funds must be expended in accordance with established legal frameworks and cannot be justified where procurement processes are not properly followed.

The ruling has been described as a significant judgment on legislative accountability and public financial management in Nigeria, reinforcing the need for transparency in the use of state resources.