Court Orders National Assembly to Release N37bn Renovation Documents

 Court Orders National Assembly to Release N37bn Renovation Documents

The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the National Assembly to make public all documents connected to the controversial N37 billion renovation of the National Assembly complex. The ruling came in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/51/2022, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, who upheld the application of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre). The case had been instituted by the organisation through its counsel, Seidu Mohammed.

In his judgment, Justice Nwite instructed the National Assembly to furnish HEDA with comprehensive details of the project. These include the proposal documents, cost assessments, procedures that led to the original N37 billion estimate, the exact amount eventually approved, the funds allocated, and the total sum disbursed so far for the renovation works.

The judge ruled that the requested documents fall squarely within the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. He further stressed that the legislature lacked any legitimate basis for withholding such information from the public, particularly given the significance of transparency in the management of public resources.

“The information is simple and harmless,” Justice Nwite stated. “When an institution like the respondent refuses or is deemed to have refused to release the requested details, it not only undermines the purpose of the Act but also fosters corruption and financial recklessness.”

Reacting to the decision, HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, applauded the court’s position, describing it as a strong affirmation of citizens’ rights to demand accountability from public institutions. He emphasised that the ruling sets an important precedent for ensuring transparency in the handling of public projects.

Suraju called on the National Assembly to fully comply with the order and make the documents available without delay. He also urged stakeholders, including the media and civil society organisations, to support ongoing efforts to hold public institutions accountable, stressing that collective vigilance remains vital in combating corruption and financial mismanagement in Nigeria