Court orders National Assembly to release documents on N37bn renovation project

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the National Assembly to release documents related to the controversial N37 billion renovation project of the National Assembly complex. The ruling, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, came in response to a suit filed by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre.

The court directed the legislative body to provide comprehensive details as requested under the Freedom of Information Act, stating that withholding such information could encourage corruption and financial recklessness. HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju hailed the judgment as a victory for transparency and the right of citizens to know how public funds are utilized.

The organization called on stakeholders, including the media and civil society, to hold public institutions accountable and ensure transparency in governance. The judgment is expected to set a precedent for increased scrutiny of financial decisions made by the National Assembly.