A Federal High Court in Lagos will on May 14, receive the report of service in a suit by a Lagos lawyer, Osita Enwe, against Senator Godfrey Utazi and his constituency office, over constituency allocations.
Last Wednesday, Enwe told Justice Muslim Hassan that first respondent Utazi had been served, but the second respondent (his constituency office) had not, following which the judge adjourned for a report of service.
Enwe filed the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/86/2019, on March 21, under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act against Utazi, who represents Enugu North at the National Assembly.
The action is supported by a 28-paragraph affidavit in which the applicant averred that the respondents declined his letter requesting for information about the constituency’s budgetary provisions and allowances.
The lawyer averred that the letter was for a request for a public record covered by the Act, which mandated the respondents to provide such information.
He is seeking a disclosure of the budgetary provisions and constituency allowances disbursed by the National Assembly to the respondents and details of their utilisation from May 29, 2015 to October 31, 2018.
He is also asking for details of the contract documents awarded by the respondents in respect of the funds.
The applicant wants the court to declare that the respondents jointly or severally are bound to disclose and grant him access to their budgetary allocation, allowances and how the funds were utilised.
He is praying for an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to provide the details sought and to publish them on their website, including any other electronic means, and in print form.
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