Lagos Lawyer and human rights activist, Mr
Femi Falana (SAN), has given the federal
government seven days ultimatum to make
available to him and his chambers information
as to whether it has acquired the military
hardware with the $1billion loan approved by
the National Assembly.
Invoking the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act in
a letter he wrote to the Minister of Finance, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Falana warned that should
the federal government refuse to grant request
for the said information, he would have no
choice than to pray a Federal High Court for an
order of mandamus compelling it to do so.
President Goodluck Jonathan had sought the
approval of the National Assembly for $1billion
foreign loan to purchase military hardware on
the grounds that the army lacked the weapons
to combat the Boko Haram sect.
The federal lawmakers unanimously approved
the president’s request to take the loan in line
with the provision of section 217 of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) which stipulates that
the armed forces shall be adequately equipped
by the Federal Government.
In his FoI request, Falana said the information
had become necessary, considering the fact that
a total of 70 soldiers had already been
convicted and sentenced to death by the
General Court-Martial sitting in Abuja for the
offence of mutiny.
“From the information at our disposal, the
military authorities have concluded
arrangements to put hundreds of other soldiers
on trial for making a similar demand”, Falana
added.
Requesting for the information regarding the
$1billion within seven days, Falana said, “Having
confirmed that the members of the armed forces
are still hampered in fighting the insurgents due
to lack of equipment, we hereby request you to
confirm whether the Federal Government has
acquired the military hardware from the loan of
$1billion approved by the National Assembly.
“As this request is made pursuant to the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act,
2011 you are required to provide us with the
requested information within seven days of the
receipt of this letter. If you fail or refuse to
accede to our request we shall be compelled to
apply to the Federal High Court for issuance
mandamus in the circumstance”.


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