SERAP Wants N110bn Recovered from Lawmakers After Court Voids Allowances, Car Purchases

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to recover and return N110 billion allegedly unlawfully spent on lawmakers’ vehicles and support allowances, following a recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The demand comes after Justice Yellim Bogoro, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, ruled that the expenditure of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for members of the National Assembly and N70 billion as support allowances for newly elected lawmakers violated procurement laws, constitutional provisions, and the public trust.

In a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said the court’s findings require immediate corrective measures, including the recovery of all funds involved in the disputed expenditures.

According to the statement, a letter dated June 20, 2026, and signed by Oluwadare, was sent to the National Assembly leadership urging compliance with the implications of the judgment.

“Flowing from Justice Bogoro’s judgment, there must be consequences and full restitution for the lawmakers’ failure to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations, particularly in relation to the unlawful expenditure of the N110 billion, as found by the Court,” the statement read.

SERAP also urged the National Assembly to establish stronger safeguards to ensure that future procurement processes and public spending strictly comply with due process requirements and the principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money.

The organisation further called for increased openness in legislative finances by institutionalising public hearings on the National Assembly budget during every budget cycle and proactively publishing detailed budgetary and expenditure information.

According to SERAP, such measures would improve transparency, strengthen public confidence, and encourage meaningful public participation in the budgeting process.

The group argued that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits derived from expenditures declared unlawful by the court would undermine public trust and weaken constitutional efforts to combat corruption and abuse of power.

SERAP maintained that no public official should retain benefits obtained through actions judicially determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional.

Although the court did not specifically order a refund of the N110 billion, SERAP insisted that the judgment provides sufficient legal and factual grounds for recovery under the Constitution, anti-corruption laws, and Nigeria’s international obligations.

The organisation warned that it may return to court if its recommendations are not implemented within one week.