Alleged None Compliance of FoI: Court fixes date to hear CSO vs Kwara Govt

By Mumini Abdulkareem
A Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin has fixed 5th of October for the hearing of an exparte application seeking to compel the Kwara State Ministry of finance to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
A Civil Society Organisation, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative filed a suit against the state government over an alleged non-compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
Earlier, counsel to Brain Builders (applicant), Zulkarnain Ajedayo requested another date to hear the Exparte application seeking the leave of the court to force compliance.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the case, the applicant counsel noted that his client dragged the government to court over the issue in seeking good governance and accountability in art of governance in the state.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, Olasupo Abideen noted that it’s imperative for the government to assent the bill as it gives everyone the right to request for information which is in the custody of any public official, agency or institution.
He said his association has applied to the State Ministry of Finance and Planning for the breakdown of over N8bn expended in the health sector in the third quarter of 2019.
According to him, the request also covers the breakdown of how the Governor’s office spent N2.451bn and N1.195bn by the Ministry of works.