Buhari’s Minister Loses Out As Court Orders Her to Account for N729 Billion, Details Emerge

• Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of the federal high court has ordered the former minister of humanitarian affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, to account for N729 billion
• Umar-Farouq was also ordered to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021
• The court gave the order after the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/853/2021.

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Lagos state - The former Minister of humanitarian affairs, disasters management and social development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has been ordered to account for payments of N729bn to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.

Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of the federal high court sitting in Lagos gave the order after the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/853/2021.

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According The Punch, the court also ordered Umar-Farouq to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries, the number of states covered, and the payments per state.

As reported by The Punch, Justice Dipeolu delivered the judgement in June the certified true copy of the judgment was obtained by the organization last Friday.

Justice Dipeolu dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments.

According to the judgement, the court ordered the former minister to “provide SERAP with details of how the beneficiaries have been selected and the mechanisms for the payments to the beneficiaries,” Vanguard reports.

“The former minister is compelled by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to give information to any person, including SERAP. I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021.”

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Justice Dipeolu also ordered Umar-Farouq to “explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translates to five per cent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.”

EFCC: Why Buhari’s minister didn't honour invitation

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Umar-Farouq did not shun its invitation.

The EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, explained that Umar-Farouq sent a letter to the anti-graft agency informing them of her health challenges.

Oyewale said the EFCC still expects the former minister to honour the invitation without further delay.

Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng