Court Strikes Out Suit Seeking Release of NDDC Forensic Audit Report

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has struck out a suit filed by Paul Arochukwu Ogbonna and another, representing a civil society group, Social Action, against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over the release of the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The plaintiffs had, in 2022, after the then Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs declined to provide their organisation with the report, approached the court, seeking an order compelling the ministry, formerly headed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to release the document.

Following the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by President Bola Tinubu upon assumption of office, the plaintiffs amended their suit to include the Attorney General of the Federation as the appropriate legal representative of the government.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Turaki Mohammed, struck out the case on the grounds that it was instituted against a non-existent government agency.

Although no counsel appeared for the AGF during the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Victor Nweke, who spoke to journalists after the ruling, explained the background of the case and expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision.

He, however, stated that the legal team would explore further options to ensure their clients’ rights are upheld.

Also speaking, one of the plaintiffs, Paul Arochukwu Ogbonna, who serves as Head of Legal for Social Action in Rivers State, described the suit as part of the group’s anti-corruption efforts.

He expressed disappointment with the outcome, insisting that Nigerians have the right to know how funds allocated to the NDDC were utilised, as captured in the forensic audit report.