RIPPLES NIGERIA
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been ordered to explain how a $460 million Chinese loan was used to finance the abandoned Abuja Closed-Circuit Television project.
The order was given in a ruling from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The ruling of the court mandates that the government publicise the total sum of money paid to Chinese and local businesses and contractors, as well as detailed information about their identities and the project’s current level of implementation.
The instructions were given by Hon. Judge Emeka Nwite in his decision in the FHC/ABJ/CS/1447/2019 Freedom of Information case brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The suit followed the disclosure in 2019 by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, that “Nigeria was servicing the loan,” adding that she had ‘no explanations on the status of the project.’ She reportedly said, “We are servicing the loan. I have no information on the status of the CCTV project.”
In his judgement, Justice Nwite agreed with SERAP that “there is a reasonable cause of action against the government. Accounting for the spending of the $460 million Chinese loan is in the public’s interest. It will be inimical for the court to refuse SERAP’s application for judicial review of the government’s action.”
Justice Nwite also said that “the Minister of Finance is in charge of the finances of the country and cannot by any stretch of imagination be oblivious of the amount of money paid to the contractors for the Abuja CCTV contract and the money meant for the construction of the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau.”
He also ordered the government “to provide the details clarifying whether the sum of N1.5 billion paid for the failed contract meant to construct the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau was part of another loan obtained from China.”
Justice Nwite’s judgement, read in part, “SERAP’s core objectives are to promote human rights, transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption in Nigeria.
“I am of the humble view that there is a reasonable cause of action against the government [through the Minister of Finance], and I so hold that SERAP has made out a case to be entitled to the reliefs sought.
“The law is well settled that where a document or letter is sent by post, it is the law that same is taken or presumed to have been delivered.
“Following this principle of law and relying on exhibit OS2, SERAP’s Freedom of Information request sent to Ms Ahmed is deemed to have delivered. Therefore, the averment by the government [through her] that they were not served with the letter is hereby discountenance. I so hold.”
Joined as defendants in the suit are Ms Ahmed and the Minister of Police Affairs.
