Court Rejects Suit Seeking to Compel CCB to Release INEC Chair’s Asset Declaration

A Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, struck out a suit seeking to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to release details of the asset declaration forms of Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and those of his unmarried children

Justice John Tsoho, in his judgment, held that the applicant, Emmanuel Agonsi, failed to establish that it was in public interest for the CCB to make public the information he sought.

While Agonsi is the applicant, CCB and INEC chair were 1st and 2nd respondents respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2021.

In the suit, Agonsi sought an order of mandamus directing the CCB to release to him details of the asset declaration forms of Yakubu’s unmarried adult children in its custody as requested in his letter of Dec. 17, 2020; as well as accept payment of the appropriate fees from him forthwith.

The applicant further prayed the court for an order of mandamus directing the 1st respondent (CCB) to forthwith produce for the examination of the court, certified copies of the assets declaration forms of Yakubu and his unmarried adult children submitted to CCB for the period between 2007 and 2012 when he held office as executive secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and as INEC chairman between 2015 and 2020, and any other ones declared thereafter.

The judge held that the application was without merit and proceeded to strike it out.