The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the National Assembly’s N110 billion spending on vehicles and allowances is illegal. The court said the spending broke procurement laws, the Constitution, and the public trust.

On May 6, 2026, Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos delivered a landmark judgment. She declared that the National Assembly’s plan to spend N110 billion on luxury vehicles and allowances for lawmakers was unlawful.

N40 billion was meant for 465 vehicles. N70 billion was meant for support allowances for newly elected members.

The court’s findings

The judge found that the spending violated:

• The Public Procurement Act
• The Code of Conduct for Public Officers
• The oath of office under the Constitution

Justice Bogoro said: “The beneficiaries of the expenditure are the very officials approving it, and the expenditure confers direct pecuniary and material benefits. This constitutes a case of self-dealing and conflict of interest.”

She also noted the country’s economic hardship. “In this context, the allocation of N110 billion for the benefit of lawmakers demonstrates a failure to prioritise national interest.”

Who brought the case?

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed the suit in August 2023. It was against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

SERAP argued that the spending was self-serving and inconsiderate of Nigerians facing financial struggles.

Key rulings

The National Assembly argued that the doctrine of separation of powers protected its spending from court review. The judge rejected this.

“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.”

On the lack of evidence, the judge said: “The defendants have failed to provide any credible evidence of compliance with procurement procedure, competitive bidding and value-for-money assessment.”

She also affirmed the court’s duty to step in when the law is broken. “Where the exercise of legislative powers violates the Constitution or statutory provisions, the court not only has jurisdiction but a constitutional duty to intervene.”

What the court ordered

The court granted three main orders:

A declaration that the N40 billion vehicle procurement violated the law

A declaration that the N70 billion allowances violated the law

An order stopping the National Assembly from spending any public funds without following due process

SERAP and legal experts hailed the judgment as a victory for accountability. They said it sends a strong message that public officers cannot use their positions for personal gain.

The ruling comes at a time when Nigeria is facing serious economic challenges, and many citizens are struggling to get by.