Crime/Social Justice
ASEC hails supreme court ruling on FOIA applicability
Written By: Udo Inobeme
12 Apr 2025 07:37 AM
Benin, Edo – A civil society group, Action for Socio-political and Economic Change (ASEC), has hailed the Supreme Court judgment affirming the applicability of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on all tiers of government, including state institutions
The group in a statement issued by its director of media and publicity, Otasowie Ellison noted that the ruling has further empowered citizens to demand good governance and accountability from authorities.
"This ruling has given citizens unrestricted access to public records, previously considered inaccessible. The resilience of FOI Counsel, particularly lead counsel President Aigbokhan, has been instrumental in ensuring citizens can now request public records. This development is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in governance, empowering citizens to demand more from public institutions.", ASEC noted
The supreme court decision reversed the 2018 ruling by the Court of Appeal, Benin Division which had controversially held that the Act applies to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of federal government, not states.
The case of Austin Osaku v. EDOSACA SC/614/2014 started in January 6, 2014, after civil society organizations filed a FOI request to the Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EDOSACA).
The applicants sought detailed records relating to the HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project, including donor partnership, financial expenditures, contract awards, grants, as well as criteria for grant allocations between the year 2011 and 2014.
The group in a statement issued by its director of media and publicity, Otasowie Ellison noted that the ruling has further empowered citizens to demand good governance and accountability from authorities.
"This ruling has given citizens unrestricted access to public records, previously considered inaccessible. The resilience of FOI Counsel, particularly lead counsel President Aigbokhan, has been instrumental in ensuring citizens can now request public records. This development is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in governance, empowering citizens to demand more from public institutions.", ASEC noted
The supreme court decision reversed the 2018 ruling by the Court of Appeal, Benin Division which had controversially held that the Act applies to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of federal government, not states.
The case of Austin Osaku v. EDOSACA SC/614/2014 started in January 6, 2014, after civil society organizations filed a FOI request to the Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EDOSACA).
The applicants sought detailed records relating to the HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project, including donor partnership, financial expenditures, contract awards, grants, as well as criteria for grant allocations between the year 2011 and 2014.
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