Connect with us

Politics

Why we can’t reveal how much was spent on Buhari’s UK treatment –Emefiele, CBN

Published

on

Why we can’t reveal how much was spent on Buhari’s UK treatment –Emefiele, CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, have said that they cannot provide information on the money spent on President Muhammadu Buhari’s treatment in London, United Kingdom because it was not within their immediate responsibilities.

The duo gave the excuse in papers they filed separately before the Federal High Court in Abuja in response to a suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1142/2017.

The suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI), led by its Executive Director, Adeolu Oyinlola, is requesting Emefiele and the CBN, to tell Nigerians what it cost the country to treat Buhari, keep the presidential aircraft and crew for 103 days at the Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom that the medical treatment of the president lasted.

According to ASRADI, both the CBN and its governor declined to honour its Freedom of Information request contained in its letter of October 19, 2017.

However, in their counter affidavit filed on February 13, 2018, the CBN and its governor prayed the court to reject the applicant’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

They further asked the court to vacate an earlier ex parte order granting leave to the applicant to apply for “a prerogative order of mandamus” compelling them to provide the information requested.

Admitting that they received the October 19, 2017 letter from ASRADI, Emefiele and the CBN claimed that they forwarded the letter to President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, who according to them was the proper person to provide the information sought by the applicant.

They said, “Upon the receipt of the applicant’s application for information, the bank (CBN) transferred the same application to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The particular information sought by the applicant related to the overseas medical expenses incurred on the President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari and the aircraft parking fees at the Stansted Airport in the UK.”

READ ALSO: Amid Buhari’s optimism, Osinbajo tells why delivering promised change won’t be possible

The CBN and its governor went further to say that having transferred the applicant’s request to the President’s Chief of Staff in line with the requirement of the Freedom of Information Act, the request should have been made to the President’s Chief of Staff.

The plaintiff had in its letter sought to know the amount CBN and its governor released for Buhari’s medical treatment in London and the amount they paid on behalf of the Nigerian government as parking fees for keeping the presidential aircraft and crew in the UK while the President’s treatment lasted.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now