The Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State governor has engaged six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to defend him in a suit challenging his refusal to make public information and details of the N15 trillion budget allocated for the construction of the much-criticized project.
The enlistment of the SANs was disclosed in a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Minister for Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has doubled down on his move to keep information on the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway away from the public.
The SANs representing Umahi include Abiodun Owonikoko, Mahmud Mogaji, Prof. J. Olatoke, Yakubu Ruba, Roy Nweze, and Emmanuel Esene.
The enlistment of the SANs was disclosed in a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The legal action was instituted by rights lawyer Olukoya Ogungbeje, against Umahi and the Federal Government.
Ogungbeje is seeking a court order compelling the Federal Ministry of Works, Umahi, and the Federal Government to disclose details of the N15 trillion budgets for the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Ogungbeje filed the suit under the Freedom of Information Act, following the failure of the Ministry and its officials to provide the requested information within the statutory timeframe.
In his suit, Ogungbeje is seeking several key reliefs, including:
A declaration that the refusal or failure by the respondents to furnish information regarding the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway budget, despite receiving the applicant’s request dated April 7, 2024, constitutes a violation of the Freedom of Information Act.
An Order of Mandamus compelling the respondents to perform their official duty by providing the requested information concerning the project as per the applicant’s request dated April 12, 2024.
An Order of Mandamus compelling the respondents to provide the information immediately, through the applicant’s solicitors.
A fine of N20 million against Engr. Umahi for allegedly denying access to the requested information.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, in granting Ogungbeje’s ex-parte motion on June 7, 2024, permitted the applicant to seek judicial review. The court also granted leave to Ogungbeje to apply for a mandamus order compelling the respondents to disclose the details of the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar project.
The motion hearing has been scheduled for January 27, 2025. As of now, the respondents, including Engr. Umahi, have not submitted any official response to the suit, aside from the filing of the Memorandum of Conditional Appearance by their legal team.
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