A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to account for N729 billion paid to 24.3 million vulnerable Nigerians.
Farouq was in charge of the ministry under former president, Muhammadu Buhari, between 2019 to 2023.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had filed a Freedom of Information (FoI) request before the court.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Deinde Dipeolu on June 27, the judge ordered the former minister to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered and the payments per state.
According to TheCable, in the certified true copy of the judgment provided by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the court said:
“I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the Respondent to provide the following information to the Applicant:
“Details of the proposed payments of N729 Billion to 24.3 million Nigerians for six months, including mechanisms and logistics put in place for the payments and list of beneficiaries.
“Details of how the proposed beneficiaries have been selected, the number of states covered and the projected payments per state.
“State whether the payments will be made in cash, through Bank Verification Numbers or other means.
“Explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translate to five percent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.”
