The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has demanded that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas refund N110 billion to the public treasury after a Federal High Court in Lagos declared the National Assembly’s spending on luxury SUVs and unlawful allowances illegal.
The court ruling on the 5th of May came in a suit SERAP filed in 2023, challenging the 10th Assembly’s plan to spend N40 billion on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars and N70 billion as holiday allowances for new lawmakers.
Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court held that the N110 billion spend violated section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and lawmakers’ constitutional oath of office.
The judgment found that the spending breached the principle that public funds must be used judiciously, especially at a time when over 137 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty following fuel subsidy removal. It also described the hike in lawmakers’ own budget as a breach of fiduciary duty and a conflict of interest.
SERAP is now urging the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure immediate recovery and restitution of the N110 billion, arguing that failure to do so will allow the travesty and self-dealing by legislators to continue.
The original plan included procurement of at least 107 units of the 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser for Senate members and 358 units of the 2023 Toyota Prado for House of Representatives members, fueling public anger over perceived extravagance.
While the N70 billion was budgeted as support allowances for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives was set for 12 million poor Nigerians, deepening criticism of the disparity in public spending priorities.
Legal experts and civil society groups have welcomed the judgment as a victory for accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s public finance system.
The court has not yet issued specific orders on the timeline for repayment, and the National Assembly has not formally announced how it will implement the refund order.
SERAP’s demand comes amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, raising questions about the appropriateness of such spending on luxury vehicles while citizens face poverty and insecurity.
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SERAP demands N110bn refund for luxury cars and unlawful allowances
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has demanded that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas refund N110 billion to the public treasury after a Federal High Court in Lagos declared the National Assembly's spending on luxury SUVs and unlawful allowances illegal. The court ruling on the 5th of May came in a suit SERAP filed in 2023, challenging the 10th Assembly's plan to spend N40 billion on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars and N70 billion as holiday allowances for new lawmakers. Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court held that the N110 billion spend violated section 57(4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and lawmakers' constitutional oath of office. The judgment found that the spending breached the principle that public funds must be used judiciously, especially at a time when […]
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