Court orders release of details of payments to runaway electricity contractors by OBJ, Yar’Adua, GEJ, Buhari

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The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment, has ordered the “immediate release of details of payments to all defaulting and allegedly corrupt electricity contractors and companies by the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the government of Muhammadu Buhari.”

The judgment was delivered last Friday by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, a Professor of Law, following a Freedom of Information suit number FHC/L/CS/105/19 brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

Justice Obiozor also ordered: “the full disclosure and publication of the names of companies and the whereabouts of the contractors paid by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 to carry out electricity projects across the country but disappeared with the money without executing any projects.”

This development was disclosed today in a statement by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

The details ordered by the court to be disclosed and published on a dedicated website and widely, include information on: “specific names and details about contractors and companies paid by each government, the total amounts paid by each government and the objects for the payments, the level of implementation of electricity projects, as well as details and specific locations of projects executed across the country by each government since 1999.”

The court also ruled in the suit brought against the Federal Government and the Ministry of Power, that: “the failure by the government of President Muhammadu to provide SERAP with the details of payments made to contractors by each government since 1999 is a breach of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.”

The court also ordered the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently disclose if there is an ongoing investigation or prosecution of contractors and companies paid by successive governments since 1999 to carry out electricity projects but failed to execute the projects for which public funds were collected.”

Justice Obiozor in his judgment granted the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to provide SERAP with documents and information containing the specific names and details of contractors and companies that have been engaged in the power sector by successive governments since 1999, details, of specific projects and the amounts that have been paid to the contractors and companies, details on the level of implementation of electricity projects and their specific locations across the country, and failure to widely publish it on a dedicated website, any of such information, amounts to a breach of the obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.


2. A DECLARATION is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to provide SERAP with specific documents and information containing the specific names and details of contractors and companies that allegedly collected money for electricity projects from successive governments since 1999 but failed to execute any of such projects, and failure to widely publish it on a dedicated website, any of such information, amounts to a breach of the Respondent’s responsibility/obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

3. AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS is made directing and compelling the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to urgently compile and make available to SERAP documents and information containing the specific names and details of contactors and companies that have been engaged in the power sector by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 to date, details of specific projects and the amounts that have been paid to the contracts and companies, details on the level of implementation of electricity projects and their specific locations across the country and to publish widely including on a dedicated website, any of such information.

4. AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS is made directing and compelling the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to urgently compile and make available to SERAP documents and information containing the specific names and details of contactors and companies that allegedly collected money for electricity projects from successive governments since 1999 but failed to execute any projects.

5. A DECLARATION is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to urgently disclose if there is an ongoing investigation or prosecution of allegedly corrupt contractors and companies in the electricity sector, amounts to a breach of the Respondent’s responsibility/obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 2011

6. AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS is made directing and compelling the Respondent [Federal Government/Ministry of Power] to urgently disclose if there is an ongoing investigation or prosecution of allegedly corrupt contractors and companies in the electricity sector.

SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said: “We welcome the ground-breaking judgment by Justice Obiozoras a victory for transparency and accountability of public officials, electricity contractors and companies and their shareholders. It is an extremely important step toward tackling the impunity in electricity sector, which has for many years forced ordinary Nigerians to stay in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.”

“SERAP commends the Court, and Justice Obiozor for this brilliant judgment, which will surely command respect and adulation from far beyond the legal profession.”

“During the 20 years of Nigeria’s democracy successive governments have failed to increase power generation and provide Nigerians with regular and uninterrupted electricity supply, with many electricity contracts shrouded in secrecy, and trillions of Naira going down the drain.”

“This judgment is good news for ordinary Nigerians who have continued to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector, as they would finally get an explanation on why the country has remained in darkness despite huge investment in the power sector by the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the government of Muhammadu Buhari.

“The enforcement of the judgment could potentially reveal individuals, contractors, and companies allegedly responsible for squandering over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply under successive governments, lead to the prosecution of suspected perpetrators, and recovery of stolen public funds.”

“SERAP calls upon the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate his oft-repeated commitment to the rule of law by immediately obeying and respecting the judgment of the Court.”

“SERAP has applied for the certified true copy of the judgment, which we will share widely once it’s obtained,”Oluwadare stated.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in February filed the FOI suit against the Federal Government and former Minister of Power Mr Babatunde Fashola. The former minister then responded, saying that: “the Ministry has searched for the requested information on details of alleged contractors and companies but we could not find it from our records.”

Mr Fashola subsequently sent SERAP the name of just one contractor–Pow Technologies Limited, an Abuja based company–through the Ministry’s letter with reference number FMP/LU/R2K/2016/T/40. The company was said to have been awarded a contract in 2014 but only supplied 13 of the 19 electricity maintenance equipment relays agreed. The government paid N79,404,892.66 to Pow Technologies Limited

http://serap-nigeria.org/court-orders-release-of-details-of-payments-to-runaway-electricity-contractors-by-obj-yaradua-gej-buhari.ngo/

No me only receipt na change, shameless goats

No be only receipt na change, shameless goats

Interesting....

PHCN and NG Police i dont know which is better to trust

This is indeed a golden gift of a judgement to all Nigerians...well done, SERAP!

For emphasis, let's reproduce the main portion of SERAP's statement on the judgement, as follows:

“We welcome the ground-breaking judgment by Justice Obiozor as a victory for transparency and accountability of public officials, electricity contractors and companies and their shareholders. It is an extremely important step toward tackling the impunity in electricity sector, which has for many years forced ordinary Nigerians to stay in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.”

“SERAP commends the Court, and Justice Obiozor for this brilliant judgment, which will surely command respect and adulation from far beyond the legal profession.”

“During the 20 years of Nigeria’s democracy successive governments have failed to increase power generation and provide Nigerians with regular and uninterrupted electricity supply, with many electricity contracts shrouded in secrecy, and trillions of Naira going down the drain.”

“This judgment is good news for ordinary Nigerians who have continued to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector, as they would finally get an explanation on why the country has remained in darkness despite huge investment in the power sector by the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the government of Muhammadu Buhari.”

“The enforcement of the judgment could potentially reveal individuals, contractors, and companies allegedly responsible for squandering over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply under successive governments, lead to the prosecution of suspected perpetrators, and recovery of stolen public funds.”

“SERAP calls upon the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate his oft-repeated commitment to the rule of law by immediately obeying and respecting the judgment of the Court.”

“SERAP has applied for the certified true copy of the judgment, which we will share widely once it’s obtained,” Mr Oluwadare stated.

I couldn't agree more.

But hey, SERAP, your work — and those of other well meaning entities and individuals within and outside the shores of our land — is cut out for you here. This means you'll have to be dogged here to get the required outcome — particularly succour to our Nation — from this landmark judgement by Justice Obiozor. That, I believe, you will, by the special grace of the Most High.

Good luck, everyone!

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P34c3
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Really?

Ok

I won't lie.. Laziness didn't allow me read it to the end



I build websites and I am based in Abuja, see my signature (09011639568) no advance payment

So, we have thieves under Buhary’s gonment too?

Nothing will happen lol

kingxsamz:
Too long to read.





Dm and get yours for #500.








Whatsapp: 09022501306

The basic reason you failed English Composition in the Primary School and English language in WASCE! Always in haste; no patience to read and understand a simple article! Just the same reason you've failed thus far to have enduring relationship with any reasonable girl. The same reason Biola left you, and you went around asking friends to plead to her on your behalf. And being the great girl she was, she refused. What girl would love up to a man who can't read and understand a few lines of English words because of laziness and impatience? But then, you aren't the first - it runs in the family! Your senior brother, Dayo, was a constant face at WAEC centres for so many years! Wonder what you'll teach your children about Learning!

I know one in Delta....V.O. An apc member now so nothing go happen

Seconded and supported..

Obasanjo wont like this, this is the one time buhari would follow the court order with immediate effect


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Irony is Nigerians always angry to hear they are the happiest people on earth.

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Irony is most Nigerians always angry to hear they are the happiest people on earth.

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Irony is most Nigerians always angry to hear we are the happiest people on earth.

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That is if Buhari will obey court judgement

Good Judgement

Adakintroy2:

Irony is most Nigerians always angry to hear we are the happiest people on earth.

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You are not current, Nigeria has dropped from the chart since the present administration came in.

Stop saying nonsense

Many corruptions in the PHCN.

A transformer that has prepaid metre besides it and half of its users use prepaid metres,while others are billed base on estimation.


The same people billed for estimation will still pay for those who use prepaid metres.



None users will pay double+ for those that use prepaid metres = total amount from the prepaid metre besides the transformer.



It shall never be well with those thieves.

Ok. Fingers crossed.

God epp us o. The deliberate sabotage of our power sector sef taya pesin

Kai. Which kind of country is this? Does it require law suit before offenders and thieves are brought to book?