SERAP Issues 7-Day Ultimatum to Akpabio, Abbas Over N110b Lawmakers’ Vehicles, Allowances

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas a seven-day ultimatum to recover and refund N110 billion allegedly spent on lawmakers’ vehicles and allowances, following a Federal High Court judgment that declared the expenditure unlawful.

The demand is contained in a letter dated June 20, 2026, signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly.

The group urged both presiding officers to ensure that all lawmakers who benefited from the controversial vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes return the funds, warning that failure to comply would lead to legal action.

SERAP also called for the immediate establishment of stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure that future National Assembly expenditures comply strictly with procurement laws, constitutional provisions, and principles of transparency and accountability.

According to the organisation, public hearings should be institutionalised in the National Assembly budget process, while detailed budgetary allocations and expenditure records should be published regularly to improve public trust.

The ultimatum follows a judgment delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, which held that the procurement of 465 vehicles worth about ₦40 billion and the payment of ₦70 billion in allowances to newly elected lawmakers violated procurement regulations and constitutional safeguards.

SERAP argued that although the court did not explicitly order a refund of the ₦110 billion, the ruling provides a legal basis for restitution, especially when considered alongside anti-corruption laws and Nigeria’s international obligations on accountability and good governance.

The organisation maintained that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits derived from what has been declared unlawful expenditure would undermine public trust and weaken constitutional principles of 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,” SERAP said.

It added that no public official should be permitted to benefit from actions already declared illegal, stressing that restitution is necessary to restore confidence in democratic institutions.

SERAP further noted that the judgment pointed to issues of self-dealing, conflict of interest and disregard for public interest in the approval and disbursement of the funds.

The group warned that if the National Assembly leadership fails to act within seven days, it would initiate legal proceedings to compel recovery of the funds from all beneficiaries.

The development adds fresh pressure on the leadership of the National Assembly over spending practices that have continued to attract public scrutiny and criticism.