SERAP Sues CBN Over Non-Disclosure of Boko Haram Sponsors

The Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has dragged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, before a Federal High Court sittingin Lagos over its failure to expose those involved in alleged money launderingused to fund theBoko Haram terrorist group.

In a suit filed by SERAP with number FHC/L/CS/1547/2014, the group is asking for a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the defendant is under a binding legal obligation to provide the Plaintiff with up to date information relating to those involved in the alleged money laundering.

Counsel to the group, TokunboMumuni, submitted that the body had written to the apex bank, petitioning for information as regards the person or persons involved in the money laundering to fund Boko Haram insurgents.

SERAP assert that, “CBN has so far failed, refused and/or neglected to provide the Plaintiff with the details of the information requested.

“By virtue of Section 1(1) of the FOI Act 2011, the Plaintiff is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution. By the provisions of Section 2(7) and 31 of the FOI Act 2011, the Defendant is a public institution.

“By virtue of Section 4 (a) of the FOI Act when a person makes a request for information from a public official, institution or agency, the public official, institution or agency to whom the application is directed is under a binding legal obligation to provide the Plaintiff with the information requested for, except as otherwise provided by the Act, within 7 days after the application is received.

“The information requested for by the Plaintiff does not come within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure by the provisions of the FOI Act,” SERAP argued.