SERAP Lists Eight Court Rulings Disobeyed By Buhari Government Despite Claiming It Doesn’t Interfere With Judiciary’s Activities

The Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) has countered a claim by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government that it wouldn’t dare to interfere with the activities of the judiciary.

SERAP, in its reaction to Buhari’s claim, accused the federal government of regular disobedience to several rulings by the courts.

The group stressed that government had been turning deaf ears to different court judgments.

The civic group recalled eight different occasions where the federal government failed to submit to the judgments passed by the court.

SERAP said these on its Twitter page.

The group said, “BREAKING: During his interview with Channels TV today, President Buhari said “I won’t dare interfere with the judiciary.”

“Well, his administration is already implicitly “interfering with the judiciary” by the persistent failure to obey several court judgments obtained by SERAP.

“1. SERAP v. FGN: Suit No: FHC/CS/964/2016 where Hon Justice Shagari ordered his government to tell Nigerians details of recovered stolen assets to date

“2. SERAP v. Minister of Power Suit No: FHC/L/CS/105/2019 where Hon. Justice Chuka Obiozor ordered his government to publish details of payments of billions of Naira to corrupt electricity contractors who disappeared with public funds without executing any projects since 1999.

“Buhari should show his commitment to judicial independence by immediately directing the AGF to enforce the following judgments:

“3. SERAP v. AGF: Suit No: FHC/IKJ/CS/248/2011 where Hon Justice Mohammed Idris ordered his government to prosecute principal officials and lawmakers suspected of padding and stealing N481bn from 2016 budget, and to publish the report on alleged 2016 budget padding.

“4. SERAP v FGN: Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 where Hon. Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo ordered his government to challenge the legality of states’ life pension laws, and to recover pensions collected by ex-governors now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.

“5. SERAP v FGN: Suit No: FHC/IKJ/CS/248/2011 where Hon. Justice Idris ordered his government to publish details of spending of all recovered stolen funds since 1999 by his government, and those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan.

“6. SERAP vs Federal Government suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/10/2020 where the ECOWAS Court of Justice ordered his government to pay a journalist, Agba Jalingo, N30 million as compensation for ill-treating and torturing him while in detention in Cross River state.

“7. SERAP v. Federal Republic of Nigeria & Anor (No. 1) – ECW/CCJ/APP/08/08 where the ECOWAS court held that every Nigerian child is entitled to the right to education and ordered the government to provide education as a matter of rights, and to address corruption in the sector.

“8. SERAP v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (No. 2) ECW/CCJ/JUD/18/2012 where the ECOWAS court ordered the government to hold all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to account for oil pollution and associated human rights violations, and to pay adequate compensation.”

SERAP, however, appealed to the government of President Buhari to obey the court rulings and implement them adequately.