The Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has granted the ex parte application of Upline Centre for Development in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/257/2024 requesting the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science to disclose the internally generated revenue of the institute and receipt of payment of same into consolidated revenue account of the federal government in line with extant financial laws, circulars and directive. The NGO had earlier forwarded a request letter dated 9th February 2024 which was not attended to within the statutory period hence the action.
The application was commenced by FOI Counsel and argued by Godspower Eroga, Esq, and Ifeoma Enwere, Esq. The Court granted the reliefs sought and ordered that the Respondents be served with the Originating Summons. Hon. Justice Omotosho also granted leave to the applicant to file a summons to compel Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences (ICPC) to investigate the Institute.
During a phone conversation with President Aigbokhan of FOI Counsel, he stated that “there is a default nexus between freedom of information, anti-corruption and the court. By practice, disclosure is through the throat of the court, and time has proven that there are no rights to information save through the court. It is not the ideal of the law but for now, we have to live with it”