THE Freedom of Information Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President came into practice in Edo State as a Federal High Court has ordered the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives to furnish the founder and president, One Love Foundation, Patrick Eholor, the salaries, allowances and Constituency funds of Senator Ehigie Uzamere representing Edo South Senatorial District and the member representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Nosakhare Osahon.
The order by Justice A.M. Liman Wednesday was sequel to a case with suit No: FHC/B/CS/94/13, filed by counsel to Eholor, Daniel Ogbegie who said his client was seeking accountability of public officers entrusted with the responsibility of representing their people and to ensure that they live up to such mandates.
Eholor, who is also a chieftain of the Labour Party had been critical of political office holders in Edo State, urging them to be accountable to the electorate.
Ogbegie said; "Our client approached us to do a letter on his behalf to the National Assembly Abuja regarding the allowances, emoluments, constituency allocations of Senator Ehigie Uzamere, and Hon Nosakhare Osahon requesting for these information. We also wrote that our client was ready to pay any fee necessary and that such information be directed to our offices in Benin.
"The Freedom of Information Act is to deepen democracy so that information can be available to the people all the time and for proper accountability to the people they want to serve. The issue of salaries of public officers has been shrouded in secrecy.
"So, we sent the letter to the National Assembly and they replied us on the 22nd of April 2013 requesting an extension to supply us with the information. But what the Freedom of Information Act of 2011, says is that such information must be supplied within seven days of the receipt of the request but they replied us after 19 days and telling to hold on.
"When we saw that the information was not forth coming, we now approached the court to seek a judicial review by way of mandamus to enforce that provision of the Freedom of Information Act and this was granted us on 10th, July 2013."
The Guardian