A Lagos Federal High Court has scrapped the National Assembly’s N110 billion spend on SUVs and support allowances for lawmakers, calling it unlawful and a breach of public trust.
Justice Yellim Bogoro delivered the ruling on May 6 in a suit filed by SERAP, FHC/L/CS/1606/2023. The court voided N40 billion used to buy 465 vehicles and N70 billion paid as “support allowances” to lawmakers elected in 2023. The judge said the spending broke procurement laws and smelled like self-dealing, since the same officials approved money that went directly to them.
“The allocation of N110 billion for lawmakers shows a failure to prioritise national interest, especially with Nigerians facing hardship,” Bogoro said. She added that separation of powers isn’t a “shield for illegality” and the court was only checking if legislative spending followed the constitution.
The court ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to ensure all future National Assembly spending sticks to due process, transparency, and value for money. It also noted the lawmakers failed to prove competitive bidding or proper procurement was done, so their claims were deemed admitted.
The House had confirmed in Oct 2023 that it was “phasing” vehicle purchases for lawmakers.
