Enough is Enough, EIE, Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, has been granted leave by a Federal High Court, Lagos, to apply to the court to compel the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA; First Bank of Nigeria, FBN; and Coscharis Motors Limited, to disclose the information requested by the organisation on the purchase of two bullet-proof cars, for Stella Oduah, former aviation minister. The organisation has also been given leave by Mohammed Yunusa, the presiding judge, to pursue three separate suits filed on its behalf by Omotola Adeoya, legal officer, Media Rights Agenda, MRA.
In the suit against NCAA, EIE is seeking among others, “a declaration that the failure and/or refusal of NCAA to grant access to or make available to EIE the information it requested by its letter dated October 30, 2013 is a violation of EIE Nigeria’s right of access to information established and guaranteed by section 1(1) and section 4 (a) of the freedom of information Act, 2011.”
In the second suit against FBN, the organisation is seeking similar reliefs as well as “the credit application file the bank provided for the lease facility of N836,970,156 for the purchase of two bullet proof BMW 760 LI HSS vehicles for the NCAA from Coscharis Motors,” that is, the original documents including pro-forma invoice from the supplier, request letter from NCAA, and insurance certificate for the BMW vehicles; the rationale for approval including the credit application (or an acceptable alternative) originating the request and details of the approving authority; and the offer letter to NCAA stating the terms and conditions of the loan facility. The suit against FBN also seeks the loan account statement reflecting the two payments already made as stated during the testimony of Joyce Nkemakolam, director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards and former acting director-general, NCAA.
In the case of Coscharis Motors, EIE is seeking, in addition to similar reliefs in its case against NCAA, the release of invoices and landing documents for the two vehicles acquired by NCAA and details of the payment for the vehicles if they were paid in full or on hire purchase as reported by the media. Hearing in the substantive suits has been fixed for March 18.
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