A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the National Assembly’s controversial ₦110 billion expenditure on vehicles and support allowances for lawmakers was unlawful, holding that the spending violated procurement requirements and principles of public accountability.
The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenging the National Assembly’s decision to spend ₦40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and ₦70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members.
In its judgment, the court found that the expenditure breached legal and constitutional standards governing public spending and procurement. The judge reportedly described the spending as inconsistent with the public trust and ordered stricter compliance with procurement laws in future government expenditures.
The ruling is being seen as a significant victory for transparency advocates, who had argued that the spending was difficult to justify at a time of economic hardship and rising poverty levels across the country.
The judgment does not automatically mean lawmakers must immediately refund the money, but it places legal scrutiny on how the funds were approved and spent. The National Assembly and its leadership may decide whether to appeal the ruling.
The case has attracted widespread public attention because the ₦110 billion package became a symbol of concerns over government spending priorities during a period marked by subsidy removal, inflation, and cost-of-living pressures on Nigerians.
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