The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Foundation (NACAT) has sued Folashodun Shonubi, the acting governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and his deputy, Edward Adamu.
NACAT alleged that Shonubi and Adamu failed to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The lawsuit, filed in a Federal High Court in Abuja by NACAT’s legal representative, John Ainetor of Festus Keyamo Chambers, also named the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau as a defendant.
The organisation hinged its lawsuit on Section 1(1) and (2) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
An affidavit accompanying the initial motion ex parte, sworn by Stanley Ugagbe, the operational manager of NACAT, asserted that the respondents adamantly declined to reveal certain documents.
Ugagbe argued that the CBN governor and the deputy are compelled by the Nigerian Constitution to declare any interests they hold in specific companies when taking up their positions.
He said:
“The applicant has a right under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, to access the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms of the second and third respondents in the records of the first respondent, concerning the declaration of the second and third respondents’ interests in the said companies.
“The applicant has made a demand under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to the respondents for them to produce the Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms, where the second and third respondents declared their interests in the said companies, but the respondents failed, refused and neglected to produce the said documents.”
