In a bid to deepen citizens’ participation in governance and hold public officials accountable, an indigene of Oyo State and public intellectual, Prince Adetayo Adekunle has dragged the Oyo State House of Assembly, its Speaker and Clerk to court over the recently passed Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Bill 2025.
The Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Bill was read for the third time by the State Legislature on May 20, 2025. It would be recalled that on May 22, 2025, Adekunle, in the exercise of his rights as a citizen, invoked the Freedom of Information Act to demand for certain documents relied upon by the House in the passage of the Obaship Bill. The request, which was neither acknowledged nor responded to by the Assembly within the timeframe provided by law, has now led to full-blown litigation.
In an originating summons (a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent) with Suit No: FHC/IB/CS/60/2025 brought pursuant to Section 1(3); Section 7(5); and Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011; Section 6(6)(b) and Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Article 9 of African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10, LFN 1990 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honorable Court, by his counsel, Prince Afeez Kilani Esq, at the Ibadan Division of the Federal High Court, Adekunle contended that access to information and records of public institutions play a very vital role in the level of enlightenment and awareness of a citizen.
Thereafter, he prayed the court for the following reliefs:
1. A declaration that the failure of the defendants to accede to the request of the plaintiff as contained in the letter dated 22nd May, 2025, is wrong in law.
2. An order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the defendants whether by themselves and/or their agents to disclose to and/or make available to the plaintiff the information requested as contained in a letter dated 22nd May, 2025, addressed to the 2nd defendant and copied to the 3rd defendant.
3. An order of the court directing the defendants to jointly and severally pay a fine of N500,000.00 for wrongful denial of the plaintiff’s right of access to information sought pursuant to the plaintiff’s application dated the 22nd May, 2025.
4. Award of the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) in favor of the applicant being the cost of this litigation.
5. Any further order(s) the court may deem fit and proper to make in the circumstance of the case.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
