INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE CITIZENS ASSISTANCE CENTRE V. HON. S. ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI (SPEAKER, LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY) & LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

UWABUNKEONYE ONWOSI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the ruling of the High Court of Lagos State, sitting at Ikeja Judicial Division delivered by HON. JUSTICE Y.O. IDOWU (MRS.) on the 14th day of March, 2012 in SUIT NO. ID/769M/2011, wherein the Trial Court upheld Respondents’ preliminary objection dated 5th December, 2011 and held that the Appellant’s application for mandamus failed.

RELEVANT FACTS

The Appellant, acting as a corporate citizen, by a letter dated 24th July 2011, requested from the Respondents detailed information on overhead cost releases made available by the Lagos State Commissioner of Finance or the Accountant General to the Lagos State House of Assembly within a specified period. The Respondents failed to respond to the request. The Appellant subsequently issued a reminder dated 9th August 2011, but again received no response.

Pursuant to Sections 20 and 25 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, an Applicant who is denied access to i…