Abacha Loot : Court Adjourns Case Seeking Disclosure Of Total Recoveries

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned till July 27 for hearing on a Freedom of Information case filed by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against monies looted by former Nigeria Head of State, Sani Abacha.

Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) give stakeholders in the country right of access to information from Government Agencies, Parastatals, Federal Civil Service, Private and Public sector organisations providing public services, among others.

SERAP suit (dated June 2020) is urging the court to compel the federal government to reveal to Nigerians the exact amount looted by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation are the first and second respondents in the suit.

SERAP is asking the court to compel the FG to provide information on the following:

“Exact amount of money stolen by General Sani Abacha from Nigeria, and the total amount of Abacha loot recovered, and all agreements signed on same since the return of democracy in 1999 till date.

“Details of the projects executed with the recovered funds, locations of any such projects and the names of companies and contractors that caried or carrying out the projects.

“The Details of specific roles played by the World Bank and other partners in the execution of any projects funded with Abacha loot since 1999.”

But when the matter was raised before presiding judge Taiwo Taiwo on Thursday, SERAP’s lawyer, Opeyemi Owolabi, said the AGF was not represented by a counsel.

He also said that the respondents had filed preliminary objection to his processes.

The judge also observed that the court had been stalled because of the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN)

Taiwo subsequently ruled that the “court will hear this matter on 27 July.”

He also directed SERAP to serve notice of hearing on the respondents.