Lawyer Maxwell Opara has welcomed the court ruling declaring the National Assembly’s ₦110 billion expenditure on sport utility vehicles unlawful, stating that the judgment validates concerns about wasteful spending and disregard for due process.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Opara said the judgment exposed what many Nigerians had long criticised about public spending by the legislature.
“₦110bn SUV budget violated due process,” he said.
According to Opara, the court’s decision confirms that the expenditure failed to comply with established procurement procedures and transparency requirements.
“The judge established the fact that this lacks due process,” he stated.
Opara commended the court for refusing to be distracted by procedural objections and instead focusing on the substance of the case.
“This offends the Public Procurement Act,” he said.
He also praised SERAP for initiating the legal challenge that led to the judgment.
“I want to commend SERAP for serving the country,” he stated.
According to Opara, the expenditure was particularly troubling given Nigeria’s economic difficulties and government borrowing needs.
“In this present Nigeria, somebody is talking about ₦110 billion for SUV cars,” he said.
He emphasized that lawmakers should have prioritised pressing national needs rather than approving such spending for themselves.
“It is unheard of,” he stated.
Opara maintained that the ruling should encourage greater scrutiny of public expenditure across government institutions.
“This is the only way to save this country,” he said.
According to him, citizens and civil society organisations must continue to monitor the implementation of the judgment to ensure compliance.
“We should monitor through the Freedom of Information Act,” he stated.
Opara warned that court victories alone would not be sufficient without sustained public oversight.
“This is the time all of us should come up collectively,” he said.
He further stated that elected officials must remain accountable for how public resources are managed.
“This money belongs to Nigerians,” he stated.
According to Opara, the judgment sends an important message that public expenditure must be subjected to legal and constitutional standards.
“We are operating a government predicated on constitutional governance,” he said.
Opara concluded that the court’s ruling against the National Assembly’s ₦110 billion SUV expenditure reinforces the importance of due process, transparency, and accountability in public spending, stressing that continued civic oversight will be necessary to ensure compliance with the judgment.
Ojo Triumph
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