Court Strikes Down National Assembly’s ₦110bn SUV, Allowance Spending

Senate plenary

Court Strikes Down National Assembly’s ₦110bn SUV, Allowance Spending

LAGOS, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has nullified the National Assembly’s ₦110 billion expenditure on luxury SUVs and support allowances for lawmakers, ruling that the spending violated Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act, breached constitutional provisions on conflict of interest, and failed basic standards of transparency and accountability.

Delivering judgment on May 6, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, Justice Yellim Bogoro voided ₦40 billion used to purchase 465 bulletproof sport utility vehicles and another ₦70 billion paid as support allowances to lawmakers elected in 2023. The ruling followed a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) , a leading anti-corruption and human rights advocacy group.

Justice Bogoro held that the National Assembly failed to provide any evidence of competitive bidding, value-for-money assessments, or compliance with Section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 — which requires that public procurement be guided by economy, efficiency, and the public interest. The judge ruled that the procurement was “arbitrary, disproportionate and inconsistent with statutory procurement standards.” The court also found that the spending violated paragraph 1, Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (Code of Conduct for Public Officers), which prohibits public officers from placing themselves in situations of conflict of interest or abusing office for personal benefit.

In one of the most striking observations in the judgment, Justice Bogoro stated that the beneficiaries of the expenditure — the lawmakers themselves — were the same officials who approved the spending. He declared that “this constitutes a case of self-dealing and conflict of interest.” The judge further noted that the expenditure violated the oath of office taken by public officers under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which demands that public office not be used for personal enrichment.

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Justice Bogoro took judicial notice of Nigeria’s prevailing economic hardship, including high inflation, unemployment, and widespread poverty. “In this context, the allocation of ₦110 billion for the benefit of lawmakers demonstrates a failure to prioritise national interest and undermines the fiduciary duty owed to the Nigerian people,” the judgment read.

The National Assembly had argued that the court lacked jurisdiction based on legislative autonomy and the separation of powers doctrine. Justice Bogoro rejected this defense, holding that “the doctrine of separation of powers does not operate as a shield for illegality. The court is concerned with the legality and constitutionality of legislative spending.” The court also dismissed the argument that the case had become academic because the funds had already been spent, stating that the matter raised significant constitutional questions and issues of public accountability that remain live and justiciable.

Justice Bogoro ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that all future procurements and expenditures by the National Assembly comply strictly with due process requirements and are guided by the principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money. No order was made for refund of the already-spent funds, as SERAP had primarily sought declaratory reliefs and injunctions against future violations.

Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, described the judgment as “a major victory for transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public resources in Nigeria.” The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) called the ruling “courageous and historic,” adding that it reaffirms that “no arm of government, regardless of its constitutional status, is above the law or exempt from public scrutiny.” Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana welcomed the judgment, stating that “it has been confirmed that the decision of members of the executive and legislature to live in obscene opulence while the people are forced to live in poverty cannot be justified.” Falana urged the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review the judgment and enforce constitutional provisions regulating the salaries and allowances of National Assembly members.

The judgment is expected to intensify public debate over legislative spending and reinforce growing calls for greater accountability in the management of public funds across all arms of government. Legal experts say the ruling sets a strong precedent that judicial review can extend to the internal spending decisions of the legislature where constitutionality, procurement compliance, and conflict of interest are in question.