Civil Society Organisations have pulled the Niger Delta Development Commission to court over its alleged inability to furnish them with its 2020 budget breakdown in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development; Social Development Integrated Centre; and Abia State NDDC Advocacy groups, filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Umuahia in Abia State.
The Executive Director of FENRAD, Comrade Nelson Nwafor, declared this in a statement signed and made available to jovianinsightnews
He noted in the suit marked: FHC/UMU/CS/349/2022 dated Dec 22 and filed by their lawyer, J.C.Anyigor, the CSOs prayed the court to coerce the NDDC to provide details of the 2020 Budget and procurement made within the period to them in compliance with Freedom of Information Act.
According to Comrade Nelson, the group wished for the commission to make available details of the vendors used in the procurement process, details of the bidding process, details of the contractors who execute the projects, details of the executed projects/location of the projects budgeted as well as the process of the disbursement to the contractors.
The suit which was filed through a motion ex parte was brought in under Order 34, Rules 3(1) & (2) of the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honorable court for Judicial Review, of which the request was made in compliance with the provisions of the FOI Act which entitled citizens, groups the right to request information from government institutions, individuals and corporate organizations.
See the full release below for your perusal.👇👇
Immediate Release 26th December 2022
FENRAD, SOCIAL ACTION & NDDC ABIA STATE advocacy groups SUE NDDC FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE 2020 NDDC Budget in line with the provision in the FOI Act
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) & Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) & Abia State NDDC Advocacy groups sue Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the denial of the NDDC 2020 Budget in line with the provision in the freedom of information Act
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) & Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) and Niger Delta Advocacy Groups in Abia State have instituted a legal Action against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for their failure to make available 2020 Budget of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
In suit dated 22nd December,2022 with suit No FHC/UMU/CS/349/2022 filed by J.C.Anyigor Esq of NCN & partners law firm Umuahia,Abia State on behalf Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) & Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) and Abia State NDDC advocacy group in motion ex parte brought in pursuant to the order 34 rules 3(1) & (2) of the federal High court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honorable Court for Judicial Review
The groups in the earlier Freedom of information letter requested from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 2020 Budget and details of the procurement made during the period,vendors used in the procurement process, details of the bidding process, details of the contractors who executive the projects, details of the executed projects/location of the projects budgeted as well as the process of the disbursement to the contractors.
The request was made in compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act which entitles citizens groups the right to request information from Government institutions, individuals and corporate organizations.
In Reply to the Request made by Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) the commission refer back FENRAD to engage the National Assembly for the Budget and demanded the sum of three Hundred and fifty thousand Niaria (N350,000.00) paid to the commission in certified bank draft in favor of Niger Delta Development Commission as Processing fee to compile the requested documents which is the procurements documents not the budget which FENRAD in the reply to the letter through their lawyer termed to be illogical, unfounded and unwarranted as the amount requested do not accord with the provisions and letters of the Act as standard charge HENCE this Legal Action by Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development(FENRAD) and Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) to compel NDDC to make this information available in line with the provision in the FOI Acts through judicial Review
Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization. It has focus on Human rights, Democracy and Good governance, Environmental Protection and Social Justice.
FENRAD’s mission is to promote and protect the interest of the vulnerable groups and the environment through the direct involvement of all stakeholders to ensure sustainable development and ensure the Human rights are uphold and protected. FENRAD over the years have actively play a significant role in Community Development, community social mobilization activities, policy analysis/Advocacy and Human Rights work, focuses on various aspects of Community development, security Governance, Budgetary monitoring and Evaluation, social inclusion, human rights, social justice, and environmental management & Justice in the Niger-Delta Region.
Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) works to promote resource democracy, social justice and human rights in the sectors of energy, mining, the environment and climate change, trade and public budgets. They engage in research and monitoring, popular education and advocacy in solidarity with communities, activists and scholars working to promote social change in Nigeria and other countries in the Gulf of Guinea region of Africa
Social Action mission is to promote platforms with the aim at encouraging change towards better democratic practices, people-oriented policy, improved livelihoods and human rights and advancing solutions to environmental and social problems. And their vision is to build a democratic order in which communities of conscious citizens contribute to and benefit from building of just societies and an environment adequate for production and sustenance of life.
Signed; Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director
Foundation for Environmental Rights,Advocacy & Development(FENRAD)
ATTACHED THE PROCESS AND THE REPLY OF THE FENRAD REQUEST BY NDDC. THANKS
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
COMRADE NELSON NNANNA NWAFOR
Environmental Rights Advocate & Human Rights Defender
Executive Director
FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, ADVOCACY & DEVELOPMENT FENRAD-NIGERIA
Registration Number: CAC/IT/N0 48555
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●Team Leader Abia State CSOs/ Non State Actors
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●Member African coalition on Corporate Accountability (ACCA)
●Member National Coalition against Oil Spill and Gas Flaring in the Niger Delta (NACGOND)
●Member Pan African climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
●Member Private Security observatory Team by DCAF
●Member of Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room
●Regional Coordinator Climate and Sustainable Development of Nigeria(CSDevNet)
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●Member Action Group for Free Civic Space
●Member Administration of Criminal justice System Committee
●Member Civil Society Network on COVID 19
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