With national debt overhang of N80 trillion and economic downturn, the House of Representatives has been hauled up before the court for procuring 360 units of SUVs at a cost of N57.6 billion and attempting to distribute the exotic vehicles to members.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a suit to that effect at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

A statement by the Deputy Director,
Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, a lawyer, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday in Abuja, said SERAP’s applications for interim and interlocutory injunction followed reports that the lawmakers were set to procure and take delivery of N57.6 billion SUVs with each costing at least N160 million.

SERAP is seeking among others: “An order of interim injunction restraining the National Assembly from procuring, taking delivery and distributing the SUVs to their members, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an order of interlocutory injunction filed simultaneously in this suit.

“Such further order(s) that the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this suit”.

SERAP is also questioning the legality of the spending billions of naira by the National Assembly to purchase exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.

It also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to “mount pressure” on the leadership of the House of Representatives and stop the 360 members from taking delivery of SUVs.

In a letter, dated October 21, 2023, SERAP stated: “The President to put pressure on the leadership of the Senate and stop members from taking delivery of the planned procurement of bulletproof SUVs, pending the hearing and determination of the application for interim injunction filed before the Federal High Court.

“Allowing the National Assembly to go ahead and purchase and take delivery of the SUVs, would prejudice the outcome of the suit pending in court and make a mockery of the rule of law.

“Unless you exercise your executive powers and discharge your constitutional oath of office act as recommended, the lawmakers would go ahead to procure and take delivery of the N57.6 billion vehicles, and thereby present the court with a fait accompli.

“It would invariably hamstring the ability of the court to do justice in the pending suit and applications for an injunction.”