Edo Water Storm, other Projects : Benin High Court orders state Govt to render account to Osagie Eholor.

A Benin High Court has ordered Edo State Government to render account of stewardship on the cost of the Benin Water Storm Project to a Senior  Member , Amnesty International and  Founder One Foundation ,  Chief Patrick Eholor in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.

Presiding Judge ,Justice D I Okungbowa delivery Judgement on the case with suit number B/84/OS/019 said having chosen to adopt the unanimous judgement of an Akure Division of the Court of Appeal in the Case between Alo versus Speaker,   Ondo State House of Assembly, which expressly stated that the  Information Act applies to Edo State and the Claimant is  entitled to information applied under the Act 2011.

Justice Okungbowa declared that Chief Osagie Eholor is entitled to the reliefs sought which are only declarative.

He explained that the Court is not  a charitable institution and cannot make any order or grant a relief not sought.

He awarded a cost of fifty thousand naira  to the claimants against the defendants.

Amongst the declarations of his lordship are that outside making available Cost of the Benin Water Storm Project the defendants should also show Areas covered by the Project through a copy of the master plan and all such drawings relating to the  Project .

The defendants are to likewise disclose exact dates, the Contracts were awarded and to whom in a formal document as well as how much has been expended on the Project , a detailed financial record, the extent of work done, Sources of funding ,loans ,grants, and terms as well as any variation in the Contracts .

The Court also compelled the Edo State Government to furbish the Claimants information about the time the Project is expected to be completed , the State of the work as at 2019 , whether still on going ,suspended or abandoned as well as any other  information incidental to the demands .

Counsel to the Claimants , Mr Austine Akahomen of M N Namuna Chambers commenting on their victory at the High Court said the Judiciary despite all odds against it in Nigeria has once again proven that it is indeed the last hope of the Common Man.

Austine  Akahomen said the judgement will not only encourage  others to participate in Governance as information about Government activities will be readily made available under better enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act but also Compelled Government of the day to do what is appropriate interns of Open and transparent Governance,.

SOUND.

On his the Plaintiff, and Member Amnesty International, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor told  News Men that he was the happiest Man on earth at the outcome of the case against the State Government.

Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor,  who had few  years ago mobilized a one million match that compelled the Federal Government to address gross failure of its South-South Nigeria said for the active inter Nations Nascent Democracy to work ,the Constituents must be allowed to participate through adequate information and active interrogation of the system.

SOUND.

Meanwhile, the renowed Benin base socio crusader and activist, Patrick Eholor, has threatened to mobilize no fewer than one million Nigerians on a mass protest over the recent demolition of parts or the Nations  High Commission Building in Ghana

  Although the Ghanaian authorities  have not only tendered apology over the demolition impasse  but had an under taken to rebuild the demolished  structures, Eholor , founder, One love foundation, a None Goverental Organisation condemmed what he termed the prolong  silence of President Mohammadu Buhari on the issue, adding that actions .

He said  actions of the Ghanaian  non-state actor amounted to destroying the  Nigeria's  soverieghty in that Country.

 He disclosed this to newmen in  benin city while speaking on issues of national concern 

Eholor also expressed fear over subsequent and possible annex of the country by other neighnouring nation if the federal government refuse to checkmate the ugly trend and demand for the immediate recall of  the Nigeria Embassador in Ghana 

It is sad that as at today President Mohammadu Buhari has not address the issue. So, I m asking them to do something urgently because when the government refuse to speak for its citizens,  as a responsible citizen  I would have no choice than to mobilize one million people to the gate of Ghana Embassy" 

Patrick Eholor observed that  equally disturbing is the decision of the federal government to expunge  history as a subject  leaning curriculum,  of Educational  Institutions  saying he would be left with no option but to approach court of law should the government decline to reinstate the subject.

On the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki by APC Governorship Screening Penal, Eholor who relied on the provision of the Freedom Of Information(FOI) urged the Vice Chancellor and Chief Registrar, University of Ibadan(UI) to research  into the archive to unveil the academic quaification of the Governor as at when he gained admission into the institution to rest the controversy.

I will not be here and allow people cast aspersion on my Governor, a very good friend. I m not seeking to run for election but anybody who is contesting election must have the requisite qualification" 

#OED..