The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered the government of President Bola Tinubu to release details of how then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime spent N535.8 million on meals for schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Specifically, Justice Nkeonye Maha, in a judgement, directed humanitarian minister Betta Edu and the ministry to furnish a civil society group with the information sought in line with section 25(1) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
The judge held that the failure of the federal government to respond to the group’s letter dated August 6, 2020, or even give a reason for the refusal to respond to the request as prescribed under the FOI Act contravened section 4(a) and (b) of the act.
“In view of all the matters before me and flowing from the objectives of the FOI Act 2011, the court hereby orders the 1st and 2nd defendants, in line with Section 25(1) of the FOI Act, to furnish the plaintiff with the information sought…