A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Assembly must disclose all documents related to the N37 billion renovation of its complex.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment in response to a suit filed by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), which sought transparency regarding the controversial project.
The court held that the requested information falls under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and that the National Assembly had no valid reason to withhold the details. Justice Nwite emphasised that denying access to such information would undermine the purpose of the FOI Act and foster corruption.
HEDA, represented by its legal counsel, Seidu Mohammed, welcomed the ruling as a triumph for accountability. The organization’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, described the decision as a critical step toward ensuring public oversight of government spending. He urged the National Assembly to comply promptly and called on civil society groups, media, and citizens to remain vigilant in demanding transparency.
The judgment is expected to intensify scrutiny of the National Assembly’s financial decisions and set a precedent for greater openness in governance. HEDA reiterated the importance of accountability, particularly in high-budget projects funded by taxpayers.
The case highlights growing public demand for transparency in Nigeria’s legislative affairs, with the court’s ruling reinforcing citizens’ right to access information on how public funds are utilised. Observers now await the National Assembly’s compliance with the order, which could influence future disclosures on government expenditures.
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cc: Politics Nigeria
