By Wendy Nweke
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 26 (today) for hearing a motion seeking an order compelling the Code of Conduct Bureau to release the details of the Asset Declaration Form of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmud Yakubu.
The motion on notice filed by an applicant, Emmanuel Agonsi, to the effect was scheduled for a hearing on Monday by the Chief Judge, John Tsoho.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the hearing notice has been issued to parties in the matter.
NAN reports that Agonsi, through his lawyer, Solomon Apke, had, in 2021, sued CCB and Yakubu as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.
Agonsi, in a motion on notice, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2021 dated January 24 and filed on January 25, sought an Order of Mandamus directing the CCB to release to him the details of the Asset Declaration Form of Yakubu’s unmarried adult children in its custody as requested in his letter of December 17, 2020; as well as accept payment of the appropriate fees from him forthwith.
The applicant further prayed the court for an Order of Mandamus directing the first respondent to forthwith produce for the examination of the court, certified copies of the Assets Declaration Forms of Yakubu and his unmarried adult children submitted to the CCB between 2007 and 2012 when he held office as Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund and as INEC Chairman between 2015 and 2020, and any other ones declared thereafter.
He, therefore, sought the following reliefs: “A declaration that the first respondent has a statutory and public duty to furnish the applicant information and details concerning the second respondent as contained in the applicant’s letter of request dated December 17, 2020.
“A declaration that the refusal or failure of the first respondent to respond to or comply with the applicant’s request as contained in his letter dated December 17, 2020 constitutes a refusal/failure of the 1st respondent’s statutory and/or public duty to the applicant, and is therefore unlawful, illegal, abuse of powers, abuse of discretion and ultra vires.”
Source:punch.com
