The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, demanding the recovery and refund of N110 billion allegedly expended on lawmakers’ vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes declared unlawful by the Federal High Court.
In a letter dated June 20, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that members of both chambers refund all monies, allowances and benefits derived from the controversial schemes and return them to the public treasury.
The organisation also called on the National Assembly to immediately establish effective mechanisms to guarantee that future procurement processes and expenditure of public funds comply strictly with due process requirements and the principles of transparency, accountability and value for money.
SERAP further recommended the institutionalisation of public hearings on the National Assembly’s budget during every budget cycle, as well as the proactive publication of detailed budgetary and expenditure information to enhance transparency, strengthen public confidence and promote meaningful public participation in the budgeting process.
The demands follow a judgment delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023. The court held that the expenditure of N40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected legislators violated procurement laws, constitutional obligations and the public trust.
According to SERAP, the judgment provides a strong legal and factual basis for restitution and accountability.
“Flowing from Justice Bogoro’s judgment, there must be consequences and full restitution for the lawmakers’ failure to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations, particularly in relation to the unlawful expenditure of the N110 billion, as found by the Court,” the organisation stated.
SERAP argued that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits obtained through expenditure judicially declared unlawful and unconstitutional would undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and contradict the constitutional obligation to combat corruption and abuse of power.
The rights group maintained that public officials should not be permitted to retain benefits derived from actions found by the courts to be unlawful, stressing that restitution is necessary to uphold the rule of law, restore public trust and ensure accountability.
It noted that while the court judgment did not expressly order a refund of the N110 billion, the ruling, when considered alongside constitutional provisions, anti-corruption laws and Nigeria’s international obligations, supports the recovery of the funds.
SERAP warned that failure to act within seven days would leave it with no option but to initiate legal proceedings against the National Assembly leadership, lawmakers and the institution itself to secure the recovery and return of the funds in the public interest.
The organisation cited Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the state to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, arguing that public institutions are constitutionally required to remedy harm arising from unlawful expenditure and conflicts of interest.
According to SERAP, Justice Bogoro’s judgment established that the vehicle procurement and allowance schemes were implemented in breach of the Public Procurement Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and constitutional principles of transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The group further noted that the court found evidence of self-dealing, conflict of interest and a failure to prioritise the national interest in the implementation of the schemes.
SERAP maintained that effective compliance mechanisms, greater public scrutiny of legislative spending and the reimbursement of unlawfully obtained benefits would help restore public trust, deter future abuses and ensure that public resources are deployed for national development rather than private gain.
