The Federal High Court in Lagos has directed the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadia Umar-Farouk, to provide a detailed account of the N729bn disbursed to 24.3 million poor Nigerians. The court ordered the former minister to disclose the list of beneficiaries, including their bank details, who received the N5,000 monthly payments for six months.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu in response to a suit filed by Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The court held that the former minister is compelled by the Freedom of Information Act to provide the requested information.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, hailed the judgment as a victory for transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds. He urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately obey the court orders and ensure the enforcement and implementation of the judgment.
The court’s ruling requires the former minister to explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which amounts to five percent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget. The judgment is seen as a significant step towards promoting transparency and accountability in the governance processes and management of public resources.