The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) secured a significant legal victory when Hon. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu ruled in favor of their Freedom of Information suit (No. FHC/L/CS/853/2021). The court ordered the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management, and Social Development to disclose the details of the N729 billion expenditure.
As disclosed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the certified judgment was obtained last Friday. Justice Dipeolu mandated the minister to provide information on the spending of N729 billion distributed to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021. The judgment required the minister to detail the selection process, the mechanisms for payments, and to justify the allocation of N5,000 to each recipient, representing five percent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget of N13.6 trillion. The court also ordered the minister to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered, and the payments per state.
Justice Dipeolu criticized the minister’s failure to disclose the requested details and upheld SERAP’s argument, dismissing the objections raised by the minister’s counsel. The court ruled that the suit, initiated by a motion ex parte filed on July 15, 2021, was within the appropriate timeframe, rejecting the claim that it was statute-barred.
In his judgment dated June 27, 2024, Justice Dipeolu emphasized the importance of compliance with statutory provisions, stating, “Failure to perform the act as provided will not only be interpreted as delinquent conduct but will be interpreted as not complying with the statutory provision.”
Kolawole Oluwadare lauded the judgment as a victory for transparency and accountability in public fund management, urging President Bola Tinubu to adhere to the court orders and address systemic corruption within the ministry, as documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, commended SERAP’s efforts and called on the Tinubu government to use the judgment as a basis for tackling corruption in the ministry and recovering misappropriated funds.
In a letter to President Tinubu dated July 6, 2024, SERAP emphasized the importance of respecting the court’s decision, urging the government to immediately compile and release the spending details of the N729 billion. The organization stressed that compliance would signify a commitment to the rule of law and distinguish the current administration from its predecessor, which frequently defied judicial rulings.
The suit stemmed from the minister’s January 2021 decision to provide financial aid to Nigerians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, promising N5,000 monthly to 24.3 million impoverished individuals for six months.
