The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to release full details of beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer programme in Ondo State within seven days.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Binta Nyako held that the ministry failed in its obligation under the Freedom of Information Act by withholding the records requested by a legal practitioner and former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ondo State, Myson Nejo.
Nejo had approached the court after the ministry refused to furnish him with the names of beneficiaries and amounts disbursed across the 18 local government areas of the state for the November 2024 to May 2025 cycle of the scheme.
The judge, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1222/2025, ruled that the information sought by the applicant was of public interest and must be disclosed. She also awarded N2 million damages in favour of Nejo.
Nejo, through his counsel, Vincent Adodo, told the court he had written to the ministry pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, asking for the names of Ondo beneficiaries and the exact sums released to each council.
The request followed public claims in May by the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda — now National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — that six million Nigerians benefitted from the programme within six months.
Although the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) initially responded, saying it was “retrieving records” to provide details, Nejo said the agency failed to provide further information, forcing him to seek judicial intervention.
He prayed the court to compel the ministry to release the records and also claimed N30 million in damages.
Represented by lawyers Ibrahim Moddibo and Noro Gwom, the ministry argued that releasing the information would infringe on the privacy of beneficiaries.
However, Adodo countered that public interest in transparency over taxpayer-funded interventions far outweighed privacy concerns, especially considering alleged controversies surrounding previous cash transfer programmes.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako agreed with the applicant, stating that government agencies must be accountable for how public funds are administered.
She affirmed Nejo’s right to access the requested information under the FOI Act and directed the ministry to release the documents within seven days.
Nejo described the judgment as “a victory for transparency and accountability in social welfare programmes.”
The Federal Government has faced widespread criticism over alleged opacity in the administration of cash transfer initiatives, with many Nigerians questioning the identities of beneficiaries and mechanisms used for disbursement.
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