A civil group, the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Foundation (NACAT), has taken both the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashodun Shonubi, and a Deputy Governor of the apex bank, Edward Adamu, to a Federal High Court in Abuja. The group is accusing them of failing to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau has also been included as a defendant in the suit filed by Festus Keyamo Chambers, the legal counsel for NACAT.
The lawsuit is based on Section 1(1) and (2) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 and was dated August 25, 2023, with the reference FHC/ABJ/CS/1182/2023.
NACAT alleges that Shonubi has refused to declare his interest in several companies, including Intameks Ltd– RC13086, Kirby’s Place Resources Ltd – RC1215845, The Pekaboo Company Ltd – RC1395011, Ehlkuhile Investment Ltd– RC857442, Iscopeng Ltd – RC1431044, and Kilima Technologies Ltd – RC1218250.
In addition, NACAT claims that Adamu has failed to declare his interest in Pinnacle Solutions Network Ltd – RC698688, Elad Global Resources Limited – RC933366, and Global World Frontier Services Nig. Ltd – RC772500.
An affidavit supporting the originating motion was signed by Stanley Ugagbe, the operational Manager of NACAT. Ugagbe stated that the respondents have vehemently refused to provide them with the necessary documents.
Ugagbe also noted that Shonubi is listed as a Director in the companies mentioned above and that Adamu is listed as a Director in Pinnacle Solutions Network Ltd – RC698688, Elad Global Resources Limited – RC933366, and Global World Frontier Services Nig. Ltd – RC772500.
According to Ugagbe, as public officers, both Shonubi and Adamu have a statutory obligation to declare their interests in the aforementioned companies in their Asset Declaration Forms when assuming their respective positions as Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The applicant argues that they have a right under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, to access the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms of the two respondents with respect to their interests in the said companies.
Despite making requests under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, the applicants claim that the respondents have failed, refused, and neglected to produce the documents.
The applicants are seeking the intervention of the court to compel the respondents to grant their request, in accordance with Section 1 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act.
The counsel for NACAT stated that they had written letters on July 3, 2023, and August 14, 2023, requesting the respondents to produce the documents, but they refused to do so.
As public officers, the 2nd and 3rd respondents are legally obligated to declare their interests in the companies when assuming their respective roles as Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the CBN, according to the counsel.
NACAT is a non-governmental organization and pro-democracy civil society organization that aims to contribute to the global fight against corruption, financial crimes, terrorism, and economic sabotage.
No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
