FOI Request: NGO Threatens To Sue Kwara Govt Over Refusal To Release Documents

 

 

 

Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has threatened to sue Kwara State government over refusal to release some  documents contrary to Freedom of Information Act.

The Non for Profit organization, BBYDI had via email dated 18th February, 2020 requested for details of some items in 2019 fourth quarter report.

Below is the letter written to Commissioner of Finance

 

The Honourable Commissioner,
Ministry of Finance and Planning,
Kwara State,
Ilorin.

Dear Ma,

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST FOR DETAILS/BREAKDOWN OF SOME LINE ITEMS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION PERFORMANCE: PRE-ACTION NOTICE

We refer to your letter dated 5th June, 2020 with reference No: F115/S.65/VOL.T2/44 in response to our request to the Ministry, via email dated 18th February, 2020 on the above subject.

Respectfully, your letter under reference denied our request on the ground that the information we requested for are protected from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 (“the Act”), without specific reference to any provisions of the Act for which our request was denied, as required under section 4(b) of the Act.

Respectfully, however, after a thorough review of our request and your letter, viz-a-viz the relevant provisions of the Act, we state categorically that all the information we had requested for do not fall within the information protected from disclosure under the Act.

Therefore, we once again appeal to your good offices to grant our request as contained in the referenced email, within a period of 7 working days upon the receipt of this letter.

TAKE NOTICE that, should the Ministry refuse to grant our request despite this appeal, within the above-stipulated ultimatum, we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court to seek appropriate reliefs against the Ministry, having regards to Sections 2 (6), 20 and 25 of the Act.

Whilst we anticipate a prompt consideration of this appeal, kindly accept our highest regard.

Yours faithfully,

Abdulazeem Ologuntere Esq.,
Head of Legal Team.

The Honourable Commissioner ,
Ministry of Finance and Planning,
Kwara State Government,
Ilorin.

Dear Ma,

We write, on behalf of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, standing on the Freedom of Information Act 2011, to humbly request the following information:

1. Breakdown(line by line) of how 8.889BN was spent on the Health Sector during the last quarter of the year.

2. Breakdown of how Governor’s office gulped 2.451BN.

3. Breakdown of Ministry of Work’s 1.195Bn.

4. Detailed explanation of how Personnel Cost(Including the Salaries of Political Office Holders) in the 3rd quarter was far higher that the figure obtained in the Fourth Quarter report(taking into cognizance that Political Office holders such as commissioners and SAs were appointed in the fourth quarter of 2019).

5. Detailed explanation of total receipt from FAAC in the last quarter (October, November and December). From the records available to us online, we acknowledged 3.5Bn (Oct), 3.5BN(Nov) and 3.2BN(Dec) totaling 10.2BN against 13.161BN quoted on the report. Kindly clarify.

6. We also observed that nothing was provided as regards the spending of the Kwara State House of Assembly (Capital and Recurrent Expenditure). Could they have been taking loans to run the affairs or the legislative immunity is now effective in Kwara? Kindly explain

7. We would appreciate if explicit responses are given to each of these questions above and within 7 days as stipulated in the freedom of information Act 2011. Kindly note that refusal to respond is subject to prosecution under law.

Should you require any clarification regarding this request, please do not hesitate to contact us via abideen@brainbuilders.com.ng or brainbuilderedu@gmail.com or dial in on +2348147464597.

You can forward the response to the email above or to our office address at BBI Office, 2 Shalom Street, TKP Junction, After Ostrich Bakery, University Road, Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State.

While we look forward to your response, at your earliest convenience within the stipulated days, we commend your efforts on transparency and accountability.

Please accept the assurances of our highest regard.

Yours Sincerely,

Abideen Opeyemi OLASUPO
Principal Lead, iWatch