Asset Declaration: CSO Drags Acting CBN Governor, Deputy, CCB To Court

A Civil Society Organisation on the aegis of ‘Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Foundation (NACAT)’ has instituted a case against the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi at a Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged failure to declare their assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

NACAT which also sued a Deputy Governor of the bank, Edward Adamu before the same court over similar offence equally joined as defendant in the suit, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The applicant through its legal counsel, Festus Keyamo Chambers, premised the suit on the strength of Section 1(1) and (2) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1182/2023, dated August 25, 2023, the applicant alleged that Shonubi failed to declare his interest in the following companies: Intameks Ltd– RC13086; Kirby’s Place Resources Ltd – RC1215845; The Pekaboo Company Ltd – RC1395011; Ehlkuhile Investment Ltd– RC857442; Iscopeng Ltd – RC1431044; and Kilima Technologies Ltd – RC1218250.

NACAT also alleged that Adamu failed to declare his interest in the following Companies: Pinnacle Solutions Network Ltd – RC698688; Elad Global Resources Limited – RC933366 and Global World Frontier Services Nig. Ltd – RC772500.

In an affidavit in support of the originating motion deposed to by one Stanley Ugagbe, the operational manager of NACAT said the respondents had vehemently refused to avail them of the documents.

Ugagbe averred that the 2nd respondent, (Ag. CBN Gov) is listed as a Director in the following Companies: Intameks Ltd– RC13086; Kirby’s Place Resources Ltd – RC1215845; The Pekaboo Company Ltd – RC1395011; Ehlkuhile Investment Ltd – RC857442; Iscopeng Ltd – RC1431044; and Kilima Technologies Ltd – RC1218250.

Also, the deponent claimed that the 3rd respondent is listed as a Director in the following Companies: Pinnacle Solutions Network Ltd – RC698688; Elad Global Resources Limited – RC933366 and Global World Frontier Services Nig. Ltd – RC772500.

Ugagbe insisted that as public officers, the 2nd and 3rd respondents have statutory obligations to declare in their Asset Declaration Forms, the interests they have in the above-named companies, while assuming their respective offices as acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) respectively.

The applicant submitted that it needed the intervention of the Court to compel the 1st and 2nd respondents to grant the request of the applicant, in accordance with Section 1 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act.

According to the Applicants; “As public officers, the 2nd and 3rd respondents have statutory obligations to declare in their Asset Declaration Forms, the interests they have in the companies while assuming their respective offices as Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of the CBN”.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.