Activist-lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo has vowed to drag the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to court if the apex court jurist fails to provide him with information on Supreme Court’s finances.

In a Pre-Action Notice to Justice Ariwoola, the activist stated that a similar notice to retired Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad met a brick wall.

According to another Pre-Action Notice addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Omirhobo noted that on the strength of the relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and via his letter dated 22/6/2022, his law firm had written to the National Judicial Council (NJC) also demanding details on its finances.

In the notices made available to CITY LAWYER, the activist-lawyer is seeking information on the finances of the apex court and the National Judicial Council pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.

He wrote: “In addition to the above, we also humbly request that you furnish us with a copy of the letter of the Justices of the Supreme Court to your predecessor-in-title accusing him of financial impropriety, corruption, mal-administration, lack of transparency, inclusivity and accountability which is in the public domain.”

Urging the apex court helmsman to furnish him with certified true copies of the documents or direct any designated official to supply the documents, Ormihobo wrote: “TAKE NOTICE, My Lord, that in the event of any delay or refusal to disclose the information within 7-days from the date of your receipt of this request, we shall be compelled to take lawful and necessary steps to compel you to disclose the information in accordance with Section 20 and other provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.”

Below are the full texts of the letters.

MALCOLM OMIRHOBO & CO.
No. 121, Okota Road, Isolo, P.O. Box 7215, Ikeja, Lagos.
Tel: 0803-307-2453,
E-mail: omirhobo@yahoo.com

12th September, 2022

The Chief Justice of Nigeria
Supreme Court Complex
Three Arms-Zone
Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja.

Your Lordship,

NOTICE ON APPLICATION BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2011 FOR THE CERTIFIED TRUE COPIES OF CERTAIN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

Our letter in respect of the above subject matter dated 22/6/2022 (copy enclosed herewith) refers.

We humbly wish to bring to your notice that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mohammed Tanko, (your predecessor-in-title) did not furnish us with the information we requested of him via our afore-mentioned letter before he resigned from office. Consequently, we hereby humbly request that you as his successor-in-office furnish us with the request in our said letter to wit:

(1) Proof of receipt of the total funds disbursed to the Chief
Justice of Nigeria as the head of the Supreme Court from the National Judicial Council from 1st day of January 2019 to date.

(2) The Financial Statement of Accounts of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from the 1st day of January 2019 to date.

(3) Proof of the total expenditure of the Supreme Court for the period of 1st January 2019 to date including List of capital projects of the Supreme Court of Nigeria within this period.

(4) Proof of payment vouchers for each project mentioned above as well as the contract agreement.

(5) The total amount realized from internally General Revenue within the period under request and proof of expenditure; Salary payment voucher of justices of the Supreme Court and non-judicial staff; and Salary payment voucher and other emoluments of the justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and non-judicial staff.

In addition to the above, we also humbly request that you furnish us with a copy of the letter of the Justices of the Supreme Court to your predecessor-in-title accusing him of financial impropriety, corruption, mal-administration, lack of transparency, inclusivity and accountability which is in the public domain.

We urge you, sir to furnish us with Certified True Copies of the aforesaid documents, or in the alternative direct any designated official or appropriate authority at the Supreme Court in Nigeria to supply us with same.

TAKE NOTICE, My Lord, that in the event of any delay or refusal to disclose the information within 7-days from the date of your receipt of this request, we shall be compelled to take lawful and necessary steps to compel you to disclose the information in accordance with Section 20 and other provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

We undertake to bear the financial cost of making the requested information available to us in line with Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

In anticipation of your kind and positive response to this request, please accept the assurances of our esteemed regards.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
FOR: MALCOLM OMIRHOBO & CO.

CHIEF MALCOLM EMOKINIOVO OMIRHOBO

Legal practitioners…………………………………………..…
Chief Malcolm Omirhobo B.Sc,Econs,Admin,LLB, BL, Tejumade Sijuade LLB,BL, A. J. Beredugo LLB,BL,LLM Sergius Emeto LLB,BL,I.C Amina LLB,BL, Jacinta Ogbedeleto LLB,BL

MALCOLM OMIRHOBO & CO.
No. 121, Okota Road, Isolo, P.O. Box 7215, Ikeja, Lagos.
Tel: 0803-307-2453,
E-mail: omirhobo@yahoo.com

12th September, 2022

The Auditor General
Audit House
Plot 273, Samuel Ademulegun Street
Central Business District (CBD)
P.M.B. 128, Garki-Abuja
Federal Capital Territory
Abuja.

Dear Sir,

APPLICATION BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2011 FOR THE CERTIFIED TRUE COPIES OF CERTAIN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

We are a firm of Attorneys and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who are passionate about good governance and proper administration at all levels and most particularly within the judicature.

On the strength of the relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, via our letter dated 22/6/2022, a copy enclosed herewith, we requested from the National Judicial Council the Certified True Copies of the following information as they relate to public documents within its custody to wit:

1) The receipts of the amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation paid directly to the National Judicial Council from the 1st day of January 2019 to date.

(2) The Proof of disbursement of funds by the National Judicial Council to the heads of the courts established for the Federation and the State under section 6 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (As Amended) from the 1st day of January 2019 to date.

Legal practitioners…………………………………………..…
Chief Malcolm Omirhobo B.Sc,Econs,Admin,LLB, BL, Tejumade Sijuade LLB,BL, A.J.Beredugo LLB,BL,LLM Sergius Emeto LLB,BL,I.C Amina LLB,BL, Jacinta Ogbedeleto LLB,BL Peter N. Okoroani LLB, BL, Franca O. Abubokhale, LLB, BL

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