The Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has been dragged before a Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged failure to release the academic records of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The Registered Trustees of Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, in a suit marked FHC/ABM/C’S/ 2449/2025 and dated November 14, prayed the court for an order of mandamus to compelled the Office of the SGF to release the records.
The suit has the SGF, a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF and the minister as 1st to 3rd defendants in the matter filed at the registry of the court.
The plaintiff, through its lawyer, Mubarak Bala Esq, initiated the suit after the SGF office turned down its request through the Freedom of Information Act.
The counsel prayed the court to determine whether, having regard to the provisions of Sections 1(1), 2(6), 4, and 7(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, the Applicant is entitled to access the Curriculum Vitae (CV) and the ‘supporting documents of a serving minister of defence submitted to the Federal Government for appointment.
He further wanted the court to determine whether the reliance by the 1st Respondent on Section 14(1) of the FOI Act (protection of personal information) to refuse disclosure of such CV and its supporting documents is valid and lawful when Section 14(2) of the Act provides that information shall be disclosed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs harm in, privacy.
The plaintiff in the suit sought the following reliefs: A declaration that the refusal by the 1st Respondent to provide the Applicant with a copy of the Curriculum Vitae (CV) and other supporting documents submitted by the Honorable Minister of State for Defence (Muhammad Bello Matawalle) for appointment as a minister, on the ground that it constitutes “personal information,” is unlawful, wrongful, and contrary to Sections 1(1), 4, 7, and 14(2} of the Freedom of information Act, 2011.
A declaration that the Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents of a serving minister submitted for ministerial appointment is a public record of a private document within the meaning of Section 2(6) of the FOI Act, and that its disclosure serves a legitimate public interest.
An order of mandamus compelling the 1st Respondent to make available to the Applicant a copy or official summary of the said Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents.
The plaintiff also prayed for an order directing the respondents to pay the sum of N5million as general damages for the unlawful refusal of access.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
