Court Grants Groups Leave To Sue CCB Over Jonathan, Buhari’s Assets

For failing to disclose to the general public the assets as declared by the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the senior public officials in the executive and legislature of both administrations, Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja has granted two civil society organisations leave to bring substantive suits against the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The leave, which was granted on Monday, April 3, 2017 in Court 2 of the Federal High Court, was granted to the duo of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) and African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL).

It followed the hearing of the Motion Ex-parte filed by both PPDC and AFRICMIL on the failure of the Bureau to provide information on written declaration of assets of elected and appointed office holders under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

At the hearing, Godwin Chigbu, lawyer to the applicants, requested for leave of court to file a suit against the Bureau on its failure to respond to the FoI requests made by both organisations.

AFRICIMIL requested for copies of written assets declaration of: the past and current principal officers of both chambers of the 7th and 8th National Assembly, as required by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

PPDC, however, requested copies of the written asset declaration of:

Past and current governors of the 36 states in Nigeria, since 2011 till date, as required by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended;

Past and current ministers of all ministries in Nigeria, since 2011 till date, as required by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended;

The former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, upon assumption of office on 29th May 2011 and after his exit from office, on 29th May 2015, as required by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended;

The Former Vice President of Nigeria, Arch. Namadi Sambo, upon his assumption of office on 29th May 2011 and after his exit from office, on 29th May 2015, as required by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended;

The current President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari upon his assumption of office, on 29thMay 2015, as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended; and

The current Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, upon his assumption of office as Vice President, on 29th May 2015, as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“Although both organisations made these requests under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, the CCB failed to respond to any of these requests within the time stipulated in the Act, thereby leading to the filing of a motion ex-parte by both organisations.

“It is the constitutional responsibility of the Bureau, to retain custody of written asset declaration forms of public officers and make them available and accessible for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the national assembly may prescribe.

“An update on the court proceedings will be published subsequently,” a statement issued by Ugochi Ekwueme of the PPDC said.