<p class="has-text-color has-very-dark-gray-color">The Federal High Court
sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment, has ordered the “immediate release of
details of payments to all defaulting and allegedly corrupt electricity
contractors and companies by ;<a>the governments of
former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,
former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the government of Muhammadu Buhari</a>.”</p>



<p>The judgment was
delivered last Friday by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, a Professor of Law,
following a Freedom of Information suit number FHC/L/CS/105/19 brought by the
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).</p>



<p class="has-text-color has-very-dark-gray-color">Justice ;<a>Obiozor</a> ;also ordered: “the full disclosure and
publication of the names of companies and the whereabouts of the contractors
paid by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 to carry
out electricity projects across the country but disappeared with the money
without executing any projects.”</p>



<p class="has-text-color has-very-dark-gray-color">This development was
disclosed on Sunday, July 7  ;in a
statement made available to OpenLife  ;by
SERAP deputy director, Kolawole ;<a>Oluwadare</a>.</p>



<p>The details ordered by
the court to be disclosed and published on a dedicated website and widely,
include information on: “specific names and details about contractors and
companies paid by each government, the total amounts paid by each government
and the objects for the payments, the level of implementation of electricity
projects, as well as details and specific locations of projects executed across
the country by each government since 1999.”</p>



<p>The court also ruled in
the suit brought against the Federal Government and the ;Ministry of
Power, ;that: “the failure by the government of President Muhammadu to
provide SERAP with the details of payments made to contractors by each
government since 1999 is a breach of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.”</p>



<p>The court also ordered
the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently disclose if there is
an ongoing investigation or prosecution of contractors and companies paid by
successive governments since 1999 to carry out electricity projects but failed
to execute the projects for which public funds were collected.”</p>



<p>Justice Obiozor in his
judgment granted the following reliefs:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li><em>A DECLARATION</em> ;is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of
 the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to provide SERAP
 with documents and information containing the specific names and details
 of contractors and companies that have been engaged in the power sector by
 successive governments since 1999, details, of specific projects and the
 amounts that have been paid to the contractors and companies, details on
 the level of implementation of electricity projects and their specific
 locations across the country, and failure to widely publish it on a
 dedicated website, any of such information, amounts to a breach of the
 obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2011</li><li><em>A DECLARATION</em> ;<a>is hereby made that the
 failure and/or refusal of the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of
 Power] ;</a>to provide SERAP with specific documents and information
 containing the specific names and details of contractors and companies
 that allegedly collected money for electricity projects from successive
 governments since 1999 but failed to execute any of such projects, and
 failure to ; widely publish it ; on a dedicated website, any of
 such information, amounts to a breach of the Respondent’s
 responsibility/obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2011</li><li><em>AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS</em> ;is made directing and compelling the Respondent
 [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to urgently compile and make
 available to SERAP documents and information containing the specific names
 and details of contactors and companies that have been engaged in the
 power sector by successive governments since the return of democracy in
 1999 to date, details of specific projects and the amounts that have been
 paid to the contracts and companies, details on the level of
 implementation of electricity projects and their specific locations across
 the country and to publish widely including on a dedicated website, any of
 such information</li><li><em>AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS</em> ;is made directing and compelling the
 Respondent ;<a>[Federal Government/Ministry of
 Power] ;</a>to urgently compile and make available to SERAP documents
 and information containing the specific names and details of contactors
 and companies that allegedly collected money for electricity projects from
 successive governments since 1999 but failed to execute any projects</li><li>A DECLARATION is hereby made
 that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry
 of Power] to urgently disclose if there is an ongoing investigation or
 prosecution of allegedly corrupt contractors and companies in the
 electricity sector, amounts to a breach of the Respondent’s
 responsibility/obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2011</li><li><em>AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS</em> ;is made directing and compelling the Respondent
 [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to urgently disclose if there is an
 ongoing investigation or prosecution of allegedly corrupt contractors and
 companies in the electricity sector.</li></ol>



<p>SERAP deputy director
Kolawole Oluwadare said: “We welcome the ground-breaking judgment by Justice<a>Obiozor</a> ;as a victory for transparency and
accountability of public officials, electricity contractors and companies and
their shareholders. It is an extremely important step toward tackling the
impunity in electricity sector, which has for many years forced ordinary
Nigerians to stay in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.”</p>



<p>“SERAP commends the
Court, and Justice Obiozor for this brilliant judgment, which will surely
command respect and adulation from far beyond the legal profession.”</p>



<p>“During the 20 years of
Nigeria’s democracy successive governments have failed to increase power
generation and provide Nigerians with regular and uninterrupted electricity
supply, with many electricity contracts shrouded in secrecy, and trillions of
Naira going down the drain.”</p>



<p>“This judgment is good
news for ordinary Nigerians who have continued to pay the price for corruption
in the electricity sector, as they would finally get an explanation on why the
country has remained in darkness despite huge investment in the power sector by
the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the government of
Muhammadu Buhari.”</p>



<p>“The enforcement of the
judgment could potentially reveal individuals, contractors, and companies
allegedly responsible for squandering over N11 trillion meant to provide
regular electricity supply under successive governments, lead to the
prosecution of suspected perpetrators, and recovery of stolen public funds.”</p>



<p>“SERAP calls upon the
government of President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate his oft-repeated
commitment to the rule of law by immediately obeying and respecting the
judgment of the Court.”</p>



<p>“SERAP has applied for the certified true copy of the judgment,
which we will share widely once it’s obtained,” ;Oluwadare stated.</p>



<p>It would be called that SERAP had in February filed the FOI suit
against the Federal Government and former Minister of Power Mr Babatunde
Fashola. ;The former minister then responded, saying that: “the Ministry
has searched for the requested information on details of alleged contractors
and companies but we could not find it from our records.”</p>



<p>Mr Fashola subsequently sent SERAP the name of just one
contractor&#8211;Pow Technologies Limited, an Abuja based company&#8211;through the
Ministry’s letter with reference number FMP/LU/R2K/2016/T/40. The company was
said to have been awarded a contract in 2014 but only supplied 13 of the 19
electricity maintenance equipment relays agreed. The government paid
N79,404,892.66 to Pow Technologies Limited.</p>

Tension In Niger State OpenLife Nigeria reports that bandits have burnt down the Divisional Police…
NDLEA Intercepts Brazil Returnee With Cocaine OpenLife Nigeria reports that a Brazil based Nigerian…
Abuja Young Singer OpenLife Nigeria reports that a wave of grief has swept through the…
“My Baby Girl Is No Longer A Baby” — Comedian AY Celebrates Daughter Michelle Turning…
War In Nollywood OpenLife Nigeria reports that Nollywood actress Regina Chukwu has joined the conversation…
“I’ve Lost People Before, But Not Like This” – Anthony Joshua Pays Emotional Tribute To…
This website uses cookies.