A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared the National Assembly’s N110 billion expenditure on SUVs and support allowances for lawmakers unlawful, ruling that the spending violated procurement laws and principles of transparency and accountability.

Justice Yellim Bogoro, in a judgment delivered on May 6, voided the N40 billion spent on 465 vehicles and the N70 billion paid as support allowances to legislators elected in 2023. The court held that the expenditure failed to comply with due process requirements under the Public Procurement Act and amounted to self-dealing and a conflict of interest.

The suit was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the National Assembly. The court also directed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that future spending and procurement by the legislature strictly adhere to transparency, accountability, and value-for-money principles.

Justice Bogoro stated that legislative autonomy cannot be used to shield unlawful actions, adding that the lawmakers failed to provide evidence of compliance with procurement procedures, competitive bidding, and value-for-money assessments. The court further noted that the expenditure undermined public trust, especially amid widespread economic hardship facing Nigerians.