Landmark Ruling: Court Orders National Assembly to Disclose N37 Billion Renovation Costs
In a significant legal victory for transparency, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the National Assembly to release the financial records related to the controversial N37 billion renovation of its complex.
Key Details of the Ruling:
The Lawsuit: The case was brought by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), a leading civil society organization, under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
The Court's Order: Justice Emeka Nwite delivered a judgment granting an order of mandamus, which compels a public body to perform a public duty. The court specifically directed the National Assembly to provide the following information to HEDA:
The proposal, assessment, and procedure used to justify the initial N37 billion cost estimate.
The actual amount of funds that have been approved and allocated for the renovation.
The total amount of money that has been disbursed for the project to date.
Judicial Reasoning: The judge emphasized that the National Assembly, as a public institution, has no legal basis to withhold this information. He stated that denying such a request would "not only defeat the very purpose of the [FOI] Act but encourage corruption and financial recklessness."
Context of the Controversy: The N37 billion renovation cost, which was initially proposed in the 2020 budget under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, sparked widespread public criticism due to its exorbitant nature. Although the amount was later reduced in the revised budget, the lack of transparency surrounding the project's financial details persisted, leading to this legal action. The ruling is being hailed as a major precedent for holding government institutions accountable to the public.
