Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana on Sunday disclosed that plans are underway to appeal the recent court ruling on the N110 billion expenditure incurred by the past management team, instituted by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Barrister Ogunlana disclosed this while responding to inquiries from the Nigerian Tribune on the ruling.
He disclosed that National Assembly bureaucracy was represented during the hearing.
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The CNA however noted that: “The matter was initiated under Originating Summons – judgment was declaratory.
“The Case shall be appealed because it was based on extraneous issues not
on any established facts.”
According to him, “the funds in question were duly appropriated by the 9th National Assembly for the statutory entitlements of members of the 10th National Assembly.”
Recall that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project had on Sunday issued a seven-day ultimatum to President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen to refund N110 billion spent on vehicles and support allowances for federal lawmakers.
The demand follows a Federal High Court judgment in Lagos that declared the expenditure unlawful.
In suit number FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, Justice Yellim Bogoro who presided over the suit ruled that the National Assembly’s spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles and N70 billion as support allowances for newly elected members breached the Public Procurement Act, constitutional obligations, and the public trust.
In a letter dated 20 June 2026, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged Senator Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen to ensure that all the lawmakers refund and return to the public treasury all monies, allowances, and benefits derived from the N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes.
SERAP spokesperson argued that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits from unlawful expenditure would contradict Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the State to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.
“No public official should be permitted to retain benefits obtained through conduct that has been judicially determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional,” he stated.
Justice Bogoro found that the schemes were “tainted by self-dealing, conflict of interest, and a failure to prioritise the national interest.”
The Court held that the procurement violated the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, constitutional oaths of office, and principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money.
Beyond the refund, SERAP asked the National Assembly of Nigeria to establish compliance mechanisms to ensure all future procurements meet due process, transparency, and value-for-money standards, institutionalise public hearings on lawmakers’ budgets during every budget cycle, and proactively publish detailed budgetary and expenditure information to strengthen public confidence and participation.
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