By Christian George
A civil group, the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Foundation has summoned the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Folashodun Shonubi, and the Deputy Governor of the apex bank, Edward Adamu, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged refusal to declare assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
The group’s legal counsel, Festus Keyamo Chambers, also joined as a defendant in the suit, according to Daily Post.
The applicant premised the suit on the strength of Section 1(1) and (2) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
NACAT alleged in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1182/2023 dated August 25, 2023, that Shonubi refused to declare his 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.
Also, the applicant is alleging that Adamu 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.
In an affidavit in support of the originating motion deposed to by one Stanley Ugagbe, the operational Manager of NACAT stated the respondents had vehemently refused to avail them of the documents.
Ugagbe averred that the 2nd respondent, (ag, CBN Gov) 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 3rd 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.
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, as doing that the apex bank’s executives have statutory obligations to declare in their Asset Declaration Forms.
“That the Applicant has a right under the Freedom of Information Act, (FoI) 2011, to access the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms of the 2nd and 3rd respondents, in the records of the 1st respondent, with respect to the declaration of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents’ interests in the said companies.
“That the applicant has made a demand under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to the Respondents to produce their Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms, where the 2nd and 3rd Respondents declared their interests in the said companies, but that the respondents failed, refused, and neglected to produce the said documents.
“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.
However, a date is yet to be fixed for the hearing of the suit.
