The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the National Assembly’s N110 billion spending on vehicles and support allowances for lawmakers was unlawful, citing violations of procurement laws and constitutional provisions.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yellim Bogoro struck down plans to spend N40 billion on 465 vehicles and N70 billion on support allowances for newly elected members of the National Assembly.
The court also directed Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to ensure that future public spending complies with due process, transparency and accountability requirements.
The case was filed in August 2023 by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, which challenged the expenditure amid growing economic hardship across the country.
In the judgment, Justice Bogoro held that the scale of the spending, combined with what she described as a lack of demonstrable due process, made the procurement arbitrary and inconsistent with statutory requirements.
The court further criticised what it described as a conflict of interest, noting that the lawmakers who approved the expenditure were also its direct beneficiaries.
According to the ruling, the allocation failed to place national interest above personal benefit and did not reflect the financial realities facing many Nigerians.
The National Assembly had argued that the matter fell within the legislature’s internal affairs and was protected by the principle of separation of powers.
However, the court rejected that position, ruling that legislative autonomy does not shield actions that may be unconstitutional or unlawful.
The defendants also argued that the suit had become academic because the funds had already been spent and questioned SERAP’s legal standing to bring the case.
Justice Bogoro dismissed those objections, affirming the validity of public interest litigation and holding that courts can grant declaratory relief even after a disputed action has been completed.
The court also waived the usual three-month pre-action notice requirement, citing the public importance and urgency of the matter.
Ultimately, the court held that the procurement breached provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and the constitutional oath of office.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the ruling as a major victory for transparency, accountability and responsible management of public resources.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also welcomed the verdict, saying extravagant spending by public officials cannot be justified during a period of widespread economic hardship.
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