By Innocent Anaba

lagos-Two civil society groups, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, WARDC, have dragged the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Sanusi Lamido to court, over alleged failure to release documents on the authorisation by CBN of over N1.26 trillion as subsidy for 2011.

Also joined as respondent in the suit before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, is Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Muhammed Adoke.

The groups in an ex-parte application, brought pursuant to section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, and Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, are arguing that under the FOI Act, they have the right to request for or gain access to information, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.

“The information being sought relates to the spending on fuel ‘subsidy’ in 2011 and in particular the authorization of the sum of N1.26 trillion paid by the CBN,” they added.

They want the court to declare that “the issuance and release of N1.26 trillion above the initial sum of N250 billion allocated for fuel subsidy for 2011 without authorisation by an Act of the National Assembly to wit; a Supplementary Appropriation Act, is a breach of section 80(2), (3) of the 1999 constitution, and as such is unlawful and unconstitutional.

* A declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, CBN governor is under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiffs  with up to date information on government/public spending relating to fuel ‘subsidy’ in 2011, including:  the basis on which the issuance and release of  N1.26 trillion on fuel ‘subsidy’ was made; detailed information and justifications for the issuance and release of money for fuel ‘subsidy’ which rose  from N250 billion for 2011 to over N1.3 trillion by the end of October 2011, N1.5 trillion by December 2011 and subsequently N1.26 trillion  without supplementary appropriation authorising the expenditure.

*An order of mandamus directing and or compelling CBN governor to provide the plaintiffs with up to date information on government/public spending relating to fuel ‘subsidy’ in 2011, including:  the basis and expectations on which the issuance of the sum of N1.26 trillion on fuel ‘subsidy’ was made; detailed information and justifications for the issuance and release of money for fuel ‘subsidy’ which rose  from N250 billion for 2011 to over N1.3 trillion by the end of October 2011, N1.5 trillion by December 2011 and subsequently N1.26 trillion  without supplementary appropriation authorising the expenditure.”

vision of the state, particularly in the areas of environmental sanitation and proper discharge of waste generated in their respective markets.

At Alamutu Market in Idi-oro, the drain constructed beside the market has been turned into a refuse bin.
“I have personally visited the area twice, to appeal to them to desist from this unsanitary habit. Similarly meetings had been held with them, all to no avail. The state government is left with no other option than to close the market  to prevent epidemic outbreak, and flooding when it rain,” Bello said.