By: Sunday Ameh
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to release full details of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme implemented in Ondo State between November 2024 and May 2025.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Binta Nyako in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1222/2025, filed by Myson Nejo, a lawyer and former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Nejo, through his counsel Vincent Adodo, invoked the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, requesting a comprehensive list of beneficiaries across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, as well as amounts disbursed to each LGA under the scheme.
The court ruled that Nejo was legally entitled to the information and ordered the Ministry to release the requested documents within seven days. Justice Nyako also awarded ₦2 million in damages in Nejo’s favour for the government’s refusal to grant access to public information.
The Ministry, through the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), had argued in its counter-affidavit that releasing the beneficiaries’ information could violate their privacy. However, Adodo countered that transparency was necessary given the public nature of the funds, stressing that the public interest outweighed any purported privacy concerns.
Justice Nyako agreed with the applicant, declaring that transparency in the use of public funds was essential and directing the ministry to comply immediately.
The legal action followed a public claim by former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda — now APC National Chairman — that six million Nigerians benefited from the CCT programme within six months.
Nejo said he sought the records after the ministry failed to honour his FOI request and only responded that it was “searching its archives,” with no further communication.
The judgement has been hailed as a major victory for transparency and accountability in public welfare programmes.
Leave a Reply