The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has issued an order mandating the full disclosure of spending details concerning over N200 billion public funds collected by the government of former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa. The funds in question were obtained from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund and allocations from the Federation Accounts.
In a judgment dated July 17, Honourable Justice Daniel Osiagor directed Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to provide comprehensive information on budgetary allocations and actual spending by the Okowa government during the period between 2015 and 2019.
This judgment came as a result of a Freedom of Information suit (number: FHC/L/CS/803/2019) brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). Justice Osiagor asserted that SERAP has the legal right to inquire and be informed about the management of public funds by government institutions. He emphasized that every citizen has a responsibility to demand transparency and accountability in the governance of public institutions.
As per the court order, the Delta State government must disclose how the Okowa government utilized over N7.28 billion received from UBEC between 2015 and 2017, as well as N213 billion received from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee in 2018, at an average of N17.8 billion per month.
SERAP initiated the suit following the case of seven-year-old Success Adegor, who was sent home from school due to her parents’ inability to pay the illegal school fee/levy of N900.
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