A Federal High Court sitting in
Lagos has ordered the Federal Government to immediately release to Nigerians
names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered,
the circumstances under which funds were recovered and the exact amount of
funds recovered from each public official.
The judgment was delivered on
Wednesday by Hon Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari following a Freedom of
Information suit number: FHC/CS/964/2016 by Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP).
The suit followed disclosure in
2016 by the Federal Government of funds recovered from some high-ranking public
officials and private individuals.
In her judgment, Justice Shagari
agreed with SERAP that, “the Federal Government has a legally binding
obligations to tell Nigerians the names of all suspected looters of the public
treasury past and present.”
Joined as defendants in the suit
are the Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Muhammed and the Federal Ministry of
Information and Culture.
Justice Shagari also granted a
declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of
Information Act 2011, the Defendants are under a binding legal obligation to
provide the Plaintiff with up to date information on the matter.
The court ordered government “To widely disseminate including on a dedicated website information about the names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered since May 2015.
“The circumstances under which stolen public funds were returned”.
In his reaction, Timothy Adewale,
SERAP deputy director, who argued the case on behalf of SERAP and said “This is
a victory for justice, rule of law, transparency and accountability in this
country.”
“The judgment shows the way forward in the fight against corruption and impunity of perpetrators.
“We will do everything within the law to ensure full compliance by President Mohammadu Buhari and Acting President Osinbajo with this landmark judgment”.
The Ministry of Information last
year published details of the recoveries, which showed that the Nigerian
government successfully retrieved total cash amount N78,325,354,631.82,
$185,119,584.61, £3,508,355.46 and €11, 250 between May 29, 2015 and May 25,
2016.
Also released were recoveries
under interim forfeiture, which were a combination of cash and assets, during
the same period: N126,563,481,095.43, $9,090,243,920.15, £2,484,447.55 and
€303,399.17.
Anticipated repatriation from
foreign countries totalled: $321,316,726.1, £6,900,000 and €11,826.11.
The ministry also announced that
239 non-cash recoveries were made during the one-year period.
The non-cash recoveries are –
farmlands, plots of land, uncompleted buildings, completed buildings, vehicles
and maritime vessels.
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Is the government aiding and abetting corruption, the least you can do is to name and shame them, since you have refused to jail them. Only the poor are jailed in this country. Rubbish.
ReplyDeleteA round of applause to judiciary and SERAP for their cuourage in trailing the motion
ReplyDelete