The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has accused the Nigerian Government of ignoring court judgments against it.
Platforms Africa reports that Deputy Director at SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, who said this in Lagos at a Media Roundtable on promoting transparency and accountability in the education, water and health sectors in Nigeria, added that seven judgements are yet to be obeyed by government while the group has over 40 pending lawsuits.
“For every lawsuit, it will be preceded by a letter of advocacy asking them to respond to issues. It’s when that fails that we go to court. We currently have a case against the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
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“We have seven judgements yet to be obeyed by government. We have over 40 pending law suits. They range from Freedom of Information requests to rights of individuals.
“We have three lawsuits against the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC. We believe some of their actions have potential to stifle freedom of the media. Unfortunately, we can’t do it all. However, we are always ready to take action,” he said.
Speaking further, he stated that the lack of political will to enforce the law is a major challenge in the nation’s justice system.
“The legal framework that we have in Nigeria is not perfect just like any other place. However, it is the lack of political will to enforce the law that is the problem.
Most of how we fight corruption seems to be knee-jerk reactions. If we had more enforcement, it is a good place to start,” he added.
Recall that the federal government had recently said advocacy group should follow through its claims against the government.
“To date, SERAP has announced on repeated occasions–each time via a well-funded media campaign – that it is suing the government or President over a range of issues from alleged human rights abuses to alleged corruption. To date, SERAP has not taken their retinue of legal actions to a logical conclusion. They don’t follow through.
“Let SERAP challenge the government publicly, legally, and transparently. And while they do so, let them reveal in full view of the nation who they are, and who is funding them,” the statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President read.
