Human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on Monday accused Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State of “trying to making a secret out of” the state’s #EndSARS panel report.
According to Ogun, the document should “ordinarily be in public circulation”.
POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that Ogun had in November asked Governor Abiodun to release the report of the Justice Solomon Olugbemi panel on police brutality in the state.
In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the lawyer said the report would be beneficial to the public.
The letter to the governor was titled, ‘Request For Ogun Endsars Panel Report Pursuant To The Freedom Of Information Act, 2011’.
Providing an update on the matter, Ogun said Governor Abiodun ignored his request.
“I have set the machinery of law in motion against the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun over his failure, neglect and refusal to accede to my FOI request concerning the release of the Ogun State #EndSars Panel Report,” Ogun wrote on his known Twitter page.
“The Report was submitted about four weeks ago and has since been shrouded in secrecy. I made an FOI Application to get a copy of the Report but after the expiration of statutory 7 days, the Governor has not reacted to my request.
“I have been really wondering why the Governor is trying to making a secret out of a document that ought to ordinarily be in public circulation?
“We must insist that things be done properly in our country. Those who swore oaths under the Sixth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution should not be allowed to recklessly violate laws with impunity. No public official is higher than the law. I’m confident the court is the only solace of the oppressed.”
