Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and the National Assembly have lost in court over the controversial N110 billion vehicle and allowance scheme after a Federal High Court in Lagos declared the spending plan unlawful.
Justice Yellim Bogoro ruled that the proposed spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members breached procurement laws, constitutional provisions and the public trust.
The court also directed the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that all future procurement and spending of public funds comply with due process, accountability, transparency and value-for-money requirements.
The case was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in August 2023 after lawmakers approved the spending plan despite widespread economic hardship across the country.
In defending the case, the National Assembly argued that the expenditure was lawful, had been properly appropriated and that the matter had become academic because the funds had already been spent.
The defendants also challenged SERAP’s legal standing and raised objections regarding court jurisdiction.
However, the court dismissed those arguments and held that SERAP had the right to bring the case as a public interest organisation.
The judge further ruled that the issues raised remained valid because they involved constitutional compliance, accountability and the management of public funds.
According to the judgment, the defendants failed to present sufficient evidence showing that proper procurement procedures, competitive bidding processes and value-for-money assessments were followed before the expenditure was approved.
The court found that lawmakers approved spending that directly benefited them, creating a conflict of interest and raising concerns about self-dealing.
Justice Bogoro held that public procurement must serve the public interest and comply with legal requirements. The court also stated that public officials must act within constitutional limits and avoid actions that could amount to personal benefit from public office.
The judge declared that the planned purchase of 465 bulletproof vehicles violated provisions of the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and the oath of office taken by members of the National Assembly.
The court also ruled that the N70 billion support allowance approved for newly elected lawmakers was inconsistent with constitutional obligations expected of public office holders.
Justice Bogoro maintained that courts have a responsibility to intervene whenever legislative actions conflict with constitutional or statutory provisions, regardless of claims of legislative autonomy.
Following the judgment, SERAP welcomed the ruling and called on the National Assembly to comply with the court’s decision. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also backed the judgment and urged lawmakers to obey it without delay.
The court ultimately ordered the National Assembly leadership to ensure that future spending and procurement activities are carried out in line with due process and the principles of accountability and responsible use of public funds.