• Home
  • Featured
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Crime
  • More
    • Celebration
    • Interviews
    • Health
    • Investigations
    • Metro
    • The Parliament
    • Opinion
    • TGN Award Night
    • Religion
    • Security
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • World

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Nigerians Hail Supreme Court For Suspending Friday’s Deadline of Using Old Banknotes

February 9, 2023

Fayemi at 58: From Eminence To Pre-minence

February 9, 2023

Sokoto Deputy Governor Dumps PDP,  Senatorial Ticket As Buhari Is Set To Welcome Him Into APC

February 9, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Nigerians Hail Supreme Court For Suspending Friday’s Deadline of Using Old Banknotes
  • Fayemi at 58: From Eminence To Pre-minence
  • Sokoto Deputy Governor Dumps PDP,  Senatorial Ticket As Buhari Is Set To Welcome Him Into APC
  • Earthquake Death Toll In Turkey, Syria Hits 15,000
  • 390 Inmates Remove From Death Row In Zambia
  • I’ll Work for Betterment of Nigerian Workers – New NLC President 
  • Ex-Perm Sec, To Spend Five Years In Prison As ICPC Secures Conviction Over N160m Fraud 
  • Cash Scarcity: Ogun Assures Bankers, Others Of Adequate Security; Wants Banks, Financial Institutions Reopened 
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
The Gazelle NewsThe Gazelle News
  • Home
  • Featured
  • News
    Featured

    Nigerians Hail Supreme Court For Suspending Friday’s Deadline of Using Old Banknotes

    By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 9, 20230
    Recent

    Nigerians Hail Supreme Court For Suspending Friday’s Deadline of Using Old Banknotes

    February 9, 2023

    Earthquake Death Toll In Turkey, Syria Hits 15,000

    February 9, 2023

    390 Inmates Remove From Death Row In Zambia

    February 9, 2023
  • Politics
    Featured

    Sokoto Deputy Governor Dumps PDP,  Senatorial Ticket As Buhari Is Set To Welcome Him Into APC

    By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 9, 20230
    Recent

    Sokoto Deputy Governor Dumps PDP,  Senatorial Ticket As Buhari Is Set To Welcome Him Into APC

    February 9, 2023

    I’ll Work for Betterment of Nigerian Workers – New NLC President 

    February 9, 2023

    Sanwo-Olu Increases Sanitation Workers’ Salary By 25%; Sweepers Display PVCs In Show Of Support, Readiness To Vote 

    February 8, 2023
  • Business
    Featured

    Cash Scarcity: Ogun Assures Bankers, Others Of Adequate Security; Wants Banks, Financial Institutions Reopened 

    By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 8, 20230
    Recent

    Cash Scarcity: Ogun Assures Bankers, Others Of Adequate Security; Wants Banks, Financial Institutions Reopened 

    February 8, 2023

    NSIP: Humanitarian Ministry Registers 1.6m Beneficiaries on e-Naira Platform

    February 8, 2023

    LIRS, FIRS Sign Pact On Exchange Of Information, Joint Tax Audit

    February 6, 2023
  • Entertainment
    Featured

    Grammy Awards! Mixed Fortunes For Nigeria: Tems Wins, Burna Boy Loses         

    By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 6, 20230
    Recent

    Grammy Awards! Mixed Fortunes For Nigeria: Tems Wins, Burna Boy Loses         

    February 6, 2023

    Leaked Sex Tape: Court Awards N5m Damages Against Singer Oxlade; Says His Action Is Despicable, Horrendous, Distasteful, Classless

    February 3, 2023

    ArtsForChange Talent Competition’s Winner Emerges

    January 30, 2023
  • Education
    Featured

    Lagos Teachers Go Digital, Adopt Wikipedia In Classrooms

    By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 8, 20230
    Recent

    Lagos Teachers Go Digital, Adopt Wikipedia In Classrooms

    February 8, 2023

    FG Approves Hijab For Female Students Of 112 Unity Colleges

    February 8, 2023

    Yinka Egbeyemi-inspired Agege Molebi Forum Distributes 12,000 Free Exercise Books, Pens To Pupils Of 12 Primary Schools In Agege

    February 4, 2023
  • Crime
    Featured

    Ex-Perm Sec, To Spend Five Years In Prison As ICPC Secures Conviction Over N160m Fraud 

    By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 9, 20230
    Recent

    Ex-Perm Sec, To Spend Five Years In Prison As ICPC Secures Conviction Over N160m Fraud 

    February 9, 2023

    Contempt: Bawa Must Go To Kuje Prison First, Senior Lawyer Olanipekun Insists; IGP Receives Order To Arrest EFCC Boss 

    February 8, 2023

    Kogi Gov’s Nephew Docked for N3bn Fraud, Remanded in Prison

    February 8, 2023
  • More
    • Celebration
    • Interviews
    • Health
    • Investigations
    • Metro
    • The Parliament
    • Opinion
    • TGN Award Night
    • Religion
    • Security
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • World
The Gazelle NewsThe Gazelle News
Home»SERAP Sues Health Ministry, NCDC Over Failure To Account For COVID-19 Money

SERAP Sues Health Ministry, NCDC Over Failure To Account For COVID-19 Money

The Gazelle NewsBy The Gazelle NewsJune 21, 2020No Comments6 Mins Read
SERAP LOGO
SERAP (Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project)
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

 

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health and Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), over “their failure to account for the public funds and other resources so far spent and used to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/616/2020 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and compelthe Minister of Health and the NCDC to publish details of the funds and resources from federal and state governments, and the private sector, as well as details of how the funds and resources have so far been spent and used to combat COVID-19.

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the Federal Government to disclose information on the exact number of tests that have been carried out for high-ranking public officials and politicians, the number of any such high-ranking public officials and politicians now in self-isolation or quarantine, as well as the exact number of tests that have been carried out for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

SERAP is arguing that: “Transparency in the use of COVID-19 money would help to reduce the risk of corruption or opportunism, build trust and engage Nigerians in the fight against coronavirus as well as safe lives. Transparency and accountability are important to implementing an effective response to COVID-19 and slowing the spread of the virus in the country.

According to SERAP: “Nigerians have the right to know the details of spending of COVID-19 money, as this is essential to the fight against corruption, and will foster the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Nigeria.

The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated 27 March 2020 to the Minister of Health and the NCDC, expressing “concern that lack of transparency in the use of the funds and resources to combat COVID-19 would lead to diversion or mismanagement of funds and resources, unnecessarily cost lives, and result in serious damage to public health in the country.

According to SERAP: “Millions of Nigerians continue to lack access to an improved water source and to proper sanitation, thereby making them vulnerable to COVID-19 and other illnesses. Yet, the Ministry of Health and the NCDC have failed and/or refused to disclose whether there is any collaborative work with the Ministry of Water Resources to provide vulnerable Nigerians with safe water, sanitation, and hygienic conditions.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Atinuke Adejuyigbe, and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: “The information SERAP is seeking to access is permitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“The Federal Government has a legal duty to ensure that information on the spending of COVID-19 money and resources is released to SERAP and widely published. It is not too much to ask for details of measures to protect health workers and procedures put in place to ensure that COVID-19 money is not diverted, mismanaged or stolen.

“The Federal Government has no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide SERAP with the information requested, and therefore, this court ought to grant SERAP the order directing and compelling the Federal Government to publish details of spending of COVID-19 money.

“There are reports of lack of transparency in the use of the funds and resources being mobilised to combat coronavirus, and that authorities are prioritising home testing of politicians, with some reportedly taking multiple tests. Politicians engaging in multiple tests for coronavirus have in turn slowed the number of tests for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

“The suit is in the public interest, as it bothers on issues of national interest, public welfare and interest, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability. Obedience to the rule of law particularly by those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law.

“Nigerians are entitled to know how the commonwealth is being utilized, managed and administered in a democratic setting, as this positively influences the feeling of belonging in the society. This right to know will no doubt help in promoting a transparent democracy, good governance and public accountability.”

SERAP is seeking the following reliefs:

AN ORDER granting leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review and seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the Respondents to provide and disclose the following information to the Applicant:
A. Details of exact funds and other resources allocated by the Nigerian authorities and private sector donations to the Respondents to improve Nigeria’s health facilities to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

B. Details of spending and planned spending of any such funds, other resources and donations to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

C. Details of efforts made by the Second Respondent to make NCDC’s website functional and accessible and to publish weekly spending on initiatives by the NCDC, including on NCDC’s website;

D. Details of processes and procedures put in place to ensure that the funds, other resources and donations allocated to combat COVID-19 are not diverted, mismanaged or stolen;

E. Details of measures to protect health workers and to encourage the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people to come forward for testing and to escalate testing for this group;

F. The exact number of tests that have been carried out for high-ranking public officials and politicians, the number of any such high-ranking public officials and politicians now in self-isolation or quarantine, as well as the exact number of tests that have been carried out for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people

AND for such further order(s) this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Related

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
The Gazelle News
  • Website

Don't Miss
Money

Nigerians Hail Supreme Court For Suspending Friday’s Deadline of Using Old Banknotes

By Soffiyyah OlamideFebruary 9, 20230

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Nigerians have hailed the verdict of Supreme Court for temporarily suspending Friday’s…

Fayemi at 58: From Eminence To Pre-minence

February 9, 2023

Sokoto Deputy Governor Dumps PDP,  Senatorial Ticket As Buhari Is Set To Welcome Him Into APC

February 9, 2023

Earthquake Death Toll In Turkey, Syria Hits 15,000

February 9, 2023
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

Most Viewed Posts
  • APO Press Releases
  • How Olori Ajoke Found A New Life Outside Oyo Kingdom
  • Wig-wearing Women to pay Tax
  • Exclusive: Drama At GAC Meeting As ex-Dep Gov, Senator, Others Tackle Speaker Over Alleged Attempt To Impose LG Chairmanship Candidates 
  • After DNA Tests Proved All Three Children Were Not His, ex-Aston Villa Striker Regains Possession Of 7-bedroom Mansion From ex-Wife
About Us
About Us

Your source for the lifestyle news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a lifestyle site. Visit our main page for more demos.

We're accepting new partnerships right now.

Email Us: tgnews2013@gmail.com
Contact: +234-802-304-5855

Most Viewed Posts
  • APO Press Releases Views: 50555 August 27, 2020
  • How Olori Ajoke Found A New Life Outside Oyo Kingdom Views: 42232 November 5, 2020
  • Wig-wearing Women to pay Tax Views: 37035 September 5, 2020
  • Exclusive: Drama At GAC Meeting As ex-Dep Gov, Senator, Others Tackle Speaker Over Alleged Attempt To Impose LG Chairmanship Candidates  Views: 28747 May 25, 2021
Search
New Comments
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Home
    © 2023 The Gazelle News. Designed by DeedsTech.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Please wait...

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Want to be notified when our article is published? Enter your email address and name below to be the first to know.
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER NOW