A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a major directive to President Bola Tinubu over the alleged N6 trillion scandal involving the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The court ruled that the president must ensure that the names of all individuals indicted in the alleged mismanagement of funds are released to the public.
It also ordered the full publication of the long-awaited NDDC forensic audit report submitted to the Federal Government on September 2, 2021.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Gladys Olotu after reviewing a Freedom of Information suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The suit had been pending since 2021.
In her ruling, the judge stated that the audit report and the list of indicted persons fall under “public records” and are not protected by any exemption in the FOI Act.
She stressed that the refusal of the authorities to release the documents violated the law and undermined transparency in the handling of public funds.
Justice Olotu explained that the FOI Act imposes a clear legal duty on public institutions to publish information relating to finances, spending, and management of public resources.
She held that SERAP met all the conditions needed for the court to issue an order of mandamus.
According to the judge, the Federal Government had no valid reason to withhold the report after several requests by the organisation.
Reacting to the judgment, SERAP described the ruling as a major step toward accountability in the Niger Delta.
The organisation urged President Tinubu to act immediately and make the findings public.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, also praised the decision.
He noted that citizens have a right to know what happened to funds earmarked for development in oil-producing communities.
He warned that failure to enforce the judgment would weaken the fight against corruption.
Following the judgment, SERAP has officially written to President Tinubu, urging him to comply without delay.
The group said the release of the report would show the government’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law, and responsible governance.
The audit covered activities of the NDDC between 2000 and 2019, including over 13,000 abandoned or unexecuted projects across the region.
SERAP had approached the court in 2021, alleging that the withheld report documented extensive misuse of public funds.
In its final orders, the court compelled the president to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation to publish the names of all persons indicted in the alleged diversion of over N6 trillion.
It also directed the immediate disclosure of the entire forensic audit report.
