By Tony Okafor, Awka
Chief Mayor Asiegbu, a Lagos-based lawyer, has threatened to take legal action against Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, over the allocation of funds to the 21 local government areas in the state.
In a letter dated 8th August, Asiegbu demanded full disclosure of the total sum accrued to the local government areas from the Federation Account Allocation Committee since March 17, 2022.
He cited Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which guarantees the right to access information in the custody of public officials or institutions.
Asiegbu, a native of Adazi-Ani in Anaocha Local Government Area, alleged that billions of naira have been disbursed to the joint account between the state government and local government areas since Soludo’s administration took office.
He expressed concerns that the funds may not be reaching the intended beneficiaries.
The lawyer’s demands include: A breakdown of funds accrued to each local government area on a month-by-month basis since March 2022, actual funds disbursed to each area by the state government on a month-by-month basis, evidence of disbursements to each area on a month-by-month basis
Asiegbu said his letter would serve as a pre-action notice to the Anambra State Government, paving the way for legal action if his demands are not met.
Asiegbu’s Letter read in part,” I am a native of Adazi – Ani in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, but live and work in Lagos State of Nigeria.
“Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, provides for rights of access to records, when it states as follows: “Notwithstanding anything contained in any Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is established”.
“It is in the public domain that since the current administration came into power in Anambra State on the 17 of March, 2022, multiple funds running into billions of naira have accrued to the 21
Local Government Areas of Anambra State from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
“The said funds have always been disbursed into the joint account between the Anambra State Government and the 21 Local Government Areas.
“The rebuttable presumption however is that these funds pass through the Anambra State Government to the 21 Local Govemment Areas.
Asiegbu’s petition further read, “Pursuant ot section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, I hereby demand in the manner below, a full disclosure of the total sum that accrued ot the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State from the Federation Account Allocation Committee within the period aforementioned: Funds that accrued to each of the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State from the Federation Account Allocation Committee on a month by month basis since the 17 of March, 2022.
“The actual funds disbursed from the accrual in paragraph (a) above to each of the 21 Local Government Areas by the Anambra State Government on a month by month basis.
“The evidence of such disbursements to each of the 21 Local Government Areas by the Anambra State Government on a month by month basis.
“NOTE:This letter doubles as a pre – action notice to Anambra State Government in respect of the subject matter above stated.
“Thanks for your co – operation.”
