The suit filed by One Love Foundation against the Federal Minister of Petroleum and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources alongside the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) to provide the foundation with all contract documents used in awarding the said pipeline surveillance contract to Mr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo(aka Tompolo) and his company in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria has been adjourned for judgement to 1st November, 2023.
The lawsuit was filed by One Love Foundation(OLF ) over the minister’s and AGF’s failure to make public and to the OLF the contract papers of the recent award of a pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo.
Abuja based human rights lawyer, Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr in his conclusive arguements urged the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite to give effect to section 4 and other enabling sections of freedom of information, act (FIA) and grant all the claims of One Love Foundation by the court ordering a full disclosure from all the described Nigeria governmental agency to provide all records and documents as regards Tompolo’s oil pipeline surveillance contract for onward review by One Love Foundation.
Barrister Ihensekhien also in his arguement stated that on the issue of locus standi of One Love Foundation to sue, the approach and complexity has been relaxed by the Supreme Court in recent decisions, and also that the FIA act actually prohibits locus standi as a clog in its adminstration. The Federal High Court, Abuja, also after hearing Ministry of Petroleum and Minister of Petroleum then again, adjourned the instant suit for judgement.
According to One Love Foundation, this above documents being sought for, is necessary for public scrutiny of the contract. The award of the contract to Tompolo has elicited criticism, but Mele Kyari, group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, had said the federal government made “the right decision.”
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