The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared unlawful the National Assembly’s controversial N110 billion expenditure on vehicles and support allowances for lawmakers, describing the spending as a breach of procurement laws, constitutional obligations, and the public trust.
In a landmark judgment delivered on May 6, 2026, Justice Yellim Bogoro ruled that the allocation of N40 billion for the purchase of 465 vehicles for legislators and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members failed to meet statutory standards of transparency, accountability, and due process.
The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, was filed in August 2023 by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on behalf of the National Assembly.
Justice Bogoro held that the scale of the expenditure, coupled with the absence of evidence of compliance with due procurement procedures, rendered the spending arbitrary and disproportionate.
“Looking at the magnitude of the expenditure, coupled with the absence of demonstrable due process, leads me to conclude that the procurement is arbitrary, disproportionate and inconsistent with statutory procurement standards,” the judge stated.
The court further found that the lawmakers who approved the spending were also its direct beneficiaries, describing the arrangement as a clear case of self-dealing and conflict of interest.
“The beneficiaries of the expenditure are the very officials approving it, and the expenditure confers direct pecuniary and material benefits. This, to my mind, constitutes a case of self-dealing and conflict of interest,” Justice Bogoro ruled.
Taking judicial notice of the prevailing economic challenges facing Nigerians, the court said the allocation of N110 billion for lawmakers’ benefits reflected a failure to prioritize the national interest amid widespread hardship.
Rejecting arguments that the matter was protected by legislative autonomy, Justice Bogoro stressed that the doctrine of separation of powers could not be used to shield unlawful conduct from judicial scrutiny.
“The Court is concerned with the legality and constitutionality of legislative spending,” she said.
The judge also held that the expenditure undermined the fiduciary duty public officials owe to citizens and was inconsistent with the oath of office.
“Public office must not be used for personal enrichment. Public officers must act within constitutional boundaries and in good faith,” the judgment stated.
The court subsequently ordered Senate President Akpabio and Speaker Abbas to ensure that all future procurement processes and public expenditures by the National Assembly strictly comply with due process requirements and uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money.
I doff my hart to this erudite jurist. Her well thought out reasons are impeccable and it underscores the very essence of separation of powers.
Indeed, I have come to observe that some female judges at superior courts are fearless, bold, understood the law and its applicability in matters of national interest. These female judges appear to be less corrupt and ever willing to take the bull by the horns, unlike most of their male counterparts.
May l therefore, humbly move a motion that in appointing future judges into the higher bench, preference should be given to women of proven intergrity and judicial excellence.