A Federal High Court in Lagos has directed Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, to provide a detailed account of the N729 billion she approved for distribution to 24.3 million Nigerians over six months.
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The court’s decision, delivered in June by Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu, came in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The suit, case number FHC/L/CS/853/2021, sought transparency regarding the disbursement of the substantial funds.
Justice Dipeolu ordered the former minister to supply SERAP with a comprehensive list of beneficiaries, the number of states covered, and the specific payments each state received.
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“The former minister is compelled by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to give information to any person, including SERAP. I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021,” the judge stated.
Farouq is also required to explain the criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries, the mechanisms employed for the payments, and the rationale behind the N5,000 payments to each of the 24.3 million recipients, which amounted to five percent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget of N13.6 trillion.
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Justice Dipeolu dismissed the objections raised by Farouq’s counsel, affirming SERAP’s argument that the minister failed to provide any valid reason for withholding the requested details.
The judge noted, “the minister did not give any reason for the refusal to disclose the details sought by SERAP. SERAP has reeled out the relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 that the minister contravened and has, in line with sections 20 and 25(1) of the Act, prayed this Court for an order of mandamus to direct and compel the minister to provide the information sought.”
Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP, praised the ruling as a milestone for transparency and accountability in public spending.
He emphasized the importance of President Bola Tinubu addressing corruption allegations within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other government bodies.
“This ground-breaking judgment is a victory for transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds,” Oluwadare said.
“Justice Dipeolu’s judgment shows the urgent need for the Tinubu government to genuinely address the systemic allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development and other ministries, departments, and agencies, as documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
Oluwadare commended Justice Dipeolu for her courage and wisdom and called on President Tinubu to comply with the court’s orders promptly.
