Alleged Fraud: Aviation Perm. Sec. sued over non disclosure of contract details

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares to assign port-folios to ministerial nominees who have already been screened by the Senate, whoever becomes the minister of Aviation may have a lawsuit already filed against the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, to deal with.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, will on September, 2, hears the ex-parte motion instituted against Mr Meribole, over failure to declare contract details of the ministry.
The plaintiff, Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organization of Nigeria, through their lawyer, Mr Peter Abang, in suit FHC/ABM/CS/969/2023, dated July 17, 2023 prayed the court for a an order granting leave to the applicant to apply for Judicial Review to it’s reliefs.
The plaintiff prays the court for a declaration that the 1st Respondent (Permanent Secretary) has a statutory and public duty to furnish the Applicant information and details concerning the 2nd Respondent as contained in the Applicant’s letter of request dated 23rd June, 2023.
He also prayed the court for a declaration that the refusal or failure of the 1st Respondent to respond to or comply with the Applicant’s request as contained in its letter dated 23 June, 2023 constitutes a refusal failure of the 1st Respondent’s statutory and or public duty to the Applicant and is therefore unlaw tul, illegal, abuse of powers, abuse of discretion and ultra vires.
Barrister Abang urged the court to make an order directing and compelling the 1st Respondent, either by its staff, officers, privies, servants or otherwise howsoever described to issue, comply with and or make available to the Applicant or his privies or Counsel, information and details of contracts and expenditures as contained in the Applicant’s letter of 23° June, 2023 as well as accept payment of the appropriate fees from the Applicant forthwith.