PRESS RELEASE: HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE FACES CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS FOR DISOBEYING COURT JUDGEMENT ON STATUTORY TRANSFERS

April 30, 2014

PRESS RELEASE

HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE FACES CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS FOR DISOBEYING COURT JUDGEMENT ON STATUTORY TRANSFERS

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on 29^th April, 2014 served the Hon. Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi  Okonjo-Iweala  Form 48 beingNotice of consequences of disobedience to order of court for disobeying the order of the federal High Court in respect of Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/301/2013: IN THE MATTER OF CENTRE FOR SOCIAL  JUSTICE VS HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE 

It will be recalled that Hon. Justice A. Abdu-Kafarati had on 25^th day of February, 2014 granted to the applicant the following reliefs to wit:-

A.  That adeclaration is hereby granted that denying the Applicant access to the details of the statutory transfers in the 2013 Appropriation Act by the Respondent without explanation constitutes an infringement of the Applicant’s right guaranteed and protected by section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

B. That a declarationis herebygranted  thatthe continued refusal of the Respondent to grant to the Applicant access to the details of statutory transfer in the 2013 Appropriation Act despite Applicant’s demand violates Section 4 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

C.  That a declaration is hereby granted that the continued refusal of the Respondent to grant access to the Applicant of the details of the statutory transfers in the 2013 Appropriation Act without explanation constitutes an infringement of the Applicant’s right guaranteed and protected by Section 48 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

 D. That an order of mandamus is granted  compelling the Respondent to grant to the Applicant access to the details of the statutory transfers in the 2013 Appropriation Act specifically, the details of the transfers to the National Judicial Council, Niger-Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education, National Assembly, Independent National Electoral Commission and National Human Rights Commission.

Since the order was made, the Minister has refused and neglected to comply with the order of the Honourable Court. Counsel to the Applicant, Kingsley Nnajiaka Esq even wrote a letter to the Hon. Minister on the need to comply with the order of the Court. Series of meetings were held in the Minister’s Office without success. With this notice, the Hon. Minister has two days to comply with the order of the Honourable Court or risk being committed for contempt of court.

Eze Onyekpere

Lead Director