The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a detailed order to the Delta State Government, demanding an account of the N200 billion education funds collected by the former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) brought this matter to light and shared the information in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.
According to SERAP, this allocation was received from the state’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
SERAP had filed a Freedom of Information Suit, which led to Justice Daniel Osiagor’s ruling.
The court ruled that the current Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, must disclose the detailed breakdown of the budgetary allocation for the years 2015 to 2019.
In the judgment, Justice Osiagor emphasised that SERAP has a valid legal right to inquire about and understand how public institutions manage public funds.
He also stressed that “every citizen has a duty to demand transparency and accountability in the governance of public institutions.”
“SERAP has cognizable legal right to inquire and know the way and manner public institutions manage public funds. I must say, that every citizen has a duty to demand transparency and accountability in governance of public institutions.”
