<p>Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (<a>SERAP), BudgIT, Enough is Enough (EiE) ;</a>and ;<a>6,721 concerned Nigerians</a> ;have filed a lawsuit
asking the Federal High Court to “restrain, prevent and stop the National
Assembly Service Commission from paying or releasing the sum of N5.550 billion
budgeted for purchase of luxury cars for principal members of the 9th Senate,
and to restrain and stop the Senate from collecting the money until the
downward review of the amount proposed by the Senate.”</p>



<p>In suit number FHC/L/CS/1511/2019 filed last Friday at the Federal
High Court, Ikoyi Lagos, the plaintiffs argued: “Spending a huge sum of N5.550
billion to buy luxury cars for principal members of the 9th Senate is unjust
and unfair. It negates the constitutional oath of office made by members to
perform their functions in the interest of the well-being and prosperity of
Nigeria and its citizens, as contained in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999
Nigerian Constitution (as amended).”</p>



<p>The plaintiffs also argued: “The proposed spending by the ninth
Senate raises pertinent questions: What is the economic value and contribution
of the vehicles sought to be purchased to the grand scheme of Nigeria’s
economy? What are the parameters used to arrive at cost efficiency and value
for money in the decision to purchase the vehicles? ; Where are the
vehicles purchased by the eighth Senate?”</p>



<p>The 6,721 concerned Nigerians who joined the suit as co-plaintiffs
with SERAP, BudgIT and EiE include: Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) co-conveners,
Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu; Jibrin Ibrahim; Edetaen Ojo; Abiola
Akiyode-Afolabi, and Deji Adeyanju.</p>



<p>The plaintiffs argued: “The failure or refusal by the Senate to
comply with legal and constitutional provisions is nothing but an act of
arbitrariness. The money could be better allocated to more important sectors of
the National Assembly expenditure – like constituency projects and National
Assembly-endowed educational scholarships.”</p>



<p>The suit, filed by Kolawole Oluwadare and supported by an
affidavit of urgency, read in part: “A public officer shall not put himself in
a position where his personal interest conflicts with his official duties. But
the plan to spend N5.550 billion to buy vehicles for principal members of the
Senate is a textbook case of a conflict of their personal interests with
national interest of fiscal efficiency &#8211; a conflict eventually resolved in
favour of personal and self-interest.”</p>



<p>“Members of the National Assembly as public officials form a very
tiny percentage of about 200 million Nigerians. It is public knowledge and
judicially noticed that members of the Senate are still eligible to collect
huge sums of money as monthly allowances and severance pay on conclusion of
their respective terms at the National Assembly.”</p>



<p>“It is thus rational that this matter is presently generating a
lot of public concern and many Nigerians are now calling for a review of the
sum proposed and budgeted for vehicles for members. In the face of glaring
facts about Nigeria’s dire economic position vis-a-vis the scant allocations to
critical sectors of the nation, we can only pray the Court to do substantive justice
by granting our reliefs sought.”</p>



<p>“There is real urgent need to assign, hear and determine this
matter expeditiously. The well-being and prosperity of Nigeria requires
commitment and sacrifice by all and sundry. However, the plan to spend N5.550
Billion [amounting to 6.4% of Nasarawa State budget] is anything but a
commitment to pursue the interest, well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its
citizens.”</p>



<p>“We urge the court to grant the plaintiffs’ reliefs by stopping
the spending of N5.550 billion on luxury cars by the Senate and compelling the
Senate to undertake a downward review of the sum proposed and budgeted,
consistent with the provisions of section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act
2007. Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the Senate will continue to
benefit from the breach of the law, and at the expense of millions of Nigerians
living in poverty.”</p>



<p>The plaintiffs want the court to determine: “Whether the plan to
spend N5.550 billion to buy vehicles for principal members of the ninth Senate
is not in breach of Section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007, Paragraph
1 of Code of Conduct for Public Officers [Fifth Schedule Part 1] of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended] and Oath of
office [Seventh Schedule] of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999”</p>



<p>The plaintiffs therefore are seeking the following reliefs from
the court:</p>



<p>1. ; ; ; ;<em>A DECLARATION</em> ;that the sum of
N5.550 billion proposed and budgeted for purchase of vehicles for principal members
of Senate [National Assembly] is in breach of Section 57[4] of the Public
Procurement Act 2007, Paragraph 1, Code of Conduct for Public Officers [Fifth
Schedule Part 1] of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999
and Oath of Office [Seventh Schedule] of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria 1999</p>



<p>2. ; ; ; ;<em>AN ORDER ;</em>compelling the ninth
Senate to undertake a downward review of the amount proposed and budgeted for
purchase of vehicles for principal members of the 1st Defendant in compliance
with Section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007</p>



<p>3. ; ; ; ;<em>AN ORDER ;</em>restraining, preventing
and stopping the National Assembly Service Commission from paying out or
releasing the sum of N5.550 billion proposed, earmarked and budgeted for
purchase of vehicles for principal members of Senate [National Assembly] until
the downward review of the amount proposed by the ninth Senate</p>



<p>4. ; ; ; ;<em>AN ORDER ;</em>restraining, preventing
and stopping all members of the Senate from collecting or demanding the sum of
N5.550 billion proposed and budgeted for purchase of vehicles for principal
members of Senate until the downward review of the amount proposed for purchase
of the vehicles</p>



<p>5. ; ; ; ;<em>ANY ORDER(S)</em> ;that the Honourable
Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this suit.</p>



<p>No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.</p>

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