SERAP sues minister, NCDC over COVID-19 spending

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has sued the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, and the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, for their alleged “failure to account for the public funds and other resources so far spent to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/616/2020, the group is praying for a mandamus order to compel Ehanire and Ihekweazu “to publish details of the funds and resources from federal and state governments, and the private sector, as well as details of how the funds and resources have so far been spent and used to combat COVID-19.”

It also wants the court to order the Federal Government “to disclose information on the exact number of tests that have been carried out for high-ranking public officials and politicians, the number of any such high-ranking public officials and politicians now in self-isolation or quarantine, as well as the exact number of tests that have been carried out for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”

SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, said the group resorted to the lawsuit after Ehanire and Ihekweazu allegedly shunned its March 27 Freedom of Information request on the subject.

Oludare said,

“Nigerians have the right to know the details of spending of COVID-19 money, as this is essential to the fight against corruption, and will foster the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Nigeria.”

“Transparency in the use of COVID-19 money would help to reduce the risk of corruption or opportunism, build trust and engage Nigerians in the fight against coronavirus as well as safe lives. Transparency and accountability are important to implementing an effective response to COVID-19 and slowing the spread of the virus in the country.”