Benue Lawyer Drags SEMA ( State Emergency Management Agency) Executive Secretary To Court For Denying Hid Access To Information Under FOI Act 2011.

A Legal practitioner Barrister Rommy Mom has dragged The Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) before a High Court in Makurdi, Benue state for denying him access to information under the Freedom of Information ACt 2011.

Reliefs sought by Barrister Mom includes an order of the court directing The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr Adikpo Agbatse to provide him with information/records of the total monies collected from federal, state and local governments including private organizations and donor agencies as aid to the flood victims, as a result of last year's flooding that affected some parts of Benue.

Rommy Mom(Applicant), also asked the court for an order directing the 1st respondent Adikpo Agbatse(SEMA) to disclose how such monies collected have been allocated or are being allocated, clearly showing the expenditure heads and the exact amount, and a further order directing Mr. Agbatse of SEMA to provide him with records showing the persons and the amounts that were paid to them and other relevant details.

According to the suit filed Messrs kizito Agba Injo Esq, on 27/3/2013, the applicant wrote a letter to the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency(SEAMA) demanding for information and records from respondents on how much monies they got and how they spent these monies on the flood victims. But since that date Mr. Agbatse (reportedly) refused or neglected to provide the applicant with the said information. The applicant therefore has no choice than to approach the court to compel Agbatse to provide the information under the Freedom of Information ACt 2011, the ground upon which the reliefs are sought.
Attached to the suit is affidavit in support of Motion on Notice and a lone Issue for determination, that is whether the Honourable Court has the power to grant the applicant's prayer.

Also joined in the suit is the Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice Benue State.
No date has been fixed for hearing.
Source The Nation.