Group sues Ondo NDDC Commissioner

An Anti-corruption group, Coalition for Transparency [CT] today dragged the commissioner representing Ondo state on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC], Mr Dele Omogbemi to court over his alleged refusal to furnish it with information and necessary documents as demanded.

Armed with Freedom of Information [FoI] Act, 2011, the group said its request since June 29 that was allegedly ignored by the defendant [NDDC Commissioner] was an intentional violation,utter and blatant disregard to the Act.

In the suit,FHC/AK/CS/58/13 filed vat the Federal High Court, Akure, the group is seeking a declaration that the request it made on the Respondent was within the confines of the FoI Act, 2011.

CT maintained that it is entitled to be furnished with all relevant information regarding the projects undertaken by NDDC Commissioner in Ijapo Estate, Akure, solar street lights project across the state, especially that of Oba-ile housing estate. It demands to know the records of transformers claimed to have been distributed in the state since 2011.

Other projects the group is demanding for the documents are; hostel rehabilitation in Ugbo, Igbokoda and other towns in Ilaje area, records of payment made to Moreno construction company in respect tothe Ugbonla-Oghoye road as well as papers relating to contract with over N1.7b among other requests as contained in the said letter of June 29.

It also sought a declaration that the Respondent’s continuous refusal to supply the applicant with all such information and documents in respect to the areas mentioned was utter disregard to the FoI Act 2011.

The group urged the Court to grant an order of mandamus, compelling NDDC Commissioner to carry out the duties imposed on it by FoI Act 2011 in the interest of justice and transparency.