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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Foundation (NACAT) has dragged the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, and a Deputy Governor of the CBN, Mr Edward Adamu, before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, for failure to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Also joined as defendant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1182/2023 and filed by the group’s legal counsel, Festus Keyamo Chambers, is the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau. The applicant premised the suit on the strength of Section 1(1) and (2) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
Specifically, the group, in the suit dated August 25, 2023, is requesting for the documents wherein Mr Shonubi deliberately refused to declare interest in the following companies: Intameks Ltd– RC13086; Kirby’s Place Resources Ltd – RC1215845; The Pekaboo Company Ltd – RC1395011; Ehlkuhile Investment Ltd– RC857442; Iscopeng Ltd – RC1431044; and Kilima Technologies Ltd – RC1218250.
Similarly, the applicant is demanding the assets and declaration forms of Adamu, wherein he failed to declare his interest in the following companies: Pinnacle Solutions Network Ltd – RC698688; Elad Global Resources Limited – RC933366, and Global World Frontier Services Nig. Ltd – RC772500.
An affidavit in support of the originating motion ex parte deposed to by Stanley Ugagbe, the operational Manager of NACAT, stated the respondents had vehemently refused to avail them of the documents.
Ugagbe averred that the second respondent is listed as a director in the following companies: Intameks Ltd– RC13086; Kirby’s Place Resources Ltd – RC1215845; The Pekaboo Company Ltd – RC1395011; Ehlkuhile Investment Ltd – RC857442; Iscopeng Ltd – RC1431044; and Kilima Technologies Ltd – RC1218250.
Also, the deponent claimed that the third respondent is listed as a director in the following companies: Pinnacle Solutions Network Ltd – RC698688; Elad Global Resources Limited – RC933366 and Global World Frontier Services Nig. Ltd – RC772500.
As public officers, Ugagbe stated, the second and third respondents have statutory obligations to declare in their Asset Declaration Forms, the interests they have in the above-named companies, while assuming their respective offices as Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“That the Applicant has a right under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, to access the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms of the second and third respondents, in the records of the first respondent, with respect to declaration of the second and third respondents’ interests in the said companies.
“That the Applicant has made a demand under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to the respondents, for the respondents to produce the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms, where the second and third respondents declared their interests in the said companies, but the respondents failed, refused and neglected to produce the said documents.
The Applicant submitted that it needed the intervention of the court to compel the first and second respondents to grant the request of the Applicant, in accordance with Section 1 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act.
The Applicants predicated their prayers on the ground that they had written letters dated July 3, 2023 and August 14, 2023, requesting the Respondents to produce the said documents, but they refused.
“The Respondents have failed, refused and neglected to produce the said documents requested from them, contrary to section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011,” the counsel stated.
As public officers, the counsel submitted that the second and third respondents have statutory obligations to declare in their Asset Declaration Forms, the interests they have in the above stated companies, while assuming their respective offices as Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the CBN.
NACAT is a non-governmental organisation, a pro-democracy civil society organisation, whose objectives include contributing to the global war against corruption, financial crimes, terrorism and economic sabotage.
