In a significant development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order demanding that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari provide a detailed account of the utilization of a $460 million Chinese loan, which was intended to finance the failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project. The court further instructed the government to disclose the total amount of money disbursed to both Chinese and local companies and contractors, along with specific information regarding the companies and contractors involved and the current status of the project’s implementation.

The ruling was made by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite during the judgment of a Freedom of Information suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1447/2019. This legal action followed the revelation in 2019 by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who stated that Nigeria was servicing the loan but had no knowledge of the project’s status, leaving several unanswered questions.

Justice Nwite concurred with SERAP’s argument that there was a justifiable cause of action against the government, emphasizing that the public interest warranted an account of the $460 million Chinese loan expenditure. He asserted that refusing SERAP’s application for judicial review of the government’s actions would be detrimental. The judge further emphasized that the Minister of Finance, being responsible for the country’s finances, cannot be unaware of the funds allocated to contractors for the Abuja CCTV project and the financial provisions for the construction of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) headquarters.

Furthermore, Justice Nwite directed the government to provide detailed clarification on whether the sum of N1.5 billion Naira, disbursed for a failed contract related to the construction of the CCB headquarters, formed part of another loan obtained from China.

In his judgment, Justice Nwite highlighted the core objectives of SERAP, which are centered around promoting human rights, transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures in Nigeria. He concluded that SERAP had presented a compelling case to warrant the relief sought.

As the judgment is delivered, it is expected that the government will comply with the court’s order promptly, providing the requested information and shedding light on the allocation and utilization of the Chinese loan.