The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the Buhari
administration and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It wants publication of names of Nigerians who have so far
benefited from cash payments, food distribution and other reliefs and
palliatives during the lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States because of
COVID-19.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/657/2020, SERAP is seeking an
order to compel Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Godwin
Emefiele, CBN Governor, to publish spending details of public funds and private
sector donations to provide socio-economic benefits to the country’s poorest
and most vulnerable people.
The body is also seeking an order to direct Farouq and
Emefiele to publish up-to-date list of donations and names of those who have
made payments as per their publicly announced donations, spending details of
the N500 billion COVID-19 intervention fund, and the names of beneficiaries.
The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by Kolawole Oluwadare
and Joke Fekumo.
It said any perception that the reliefs, funds and donations
are not reaching intended beneficiaries would undermine public trust and the
integrity of the entire processes and modes of distribution of reliefs/benefits
to these Nigerians.
SERAP noted that Farouq and Emefiele have a legal duty to
ensure that information on the details of those who have so far benefited from
COVID-19 funds and donations is released.
The group stated that Nigerians have a legitimate interest
in ascertaining and scrutinizing the veracity of the claims of how the COVID-19
funds and donations have been spent.
It insisted that emocracy cannot flourish in the absence of
citizens’ access to information, no matter how much open discussion and debate
is allowed.
SERAP submitted that the principle of disclosure of
information in overriding public interest has been internationally reaffirmed,
including in the Joint Declaration adopted by the UN Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the
Media and the OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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