Court orders First Bank to provide details of bullet proof cars purchase

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered First Bank of Nigeria Plc to disclose details of the loan facility it granted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the 2013 purchase of two bullet-proof BMW cars for former Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah.

The judge held that the bank is covered by the provisions of Sections 2(7) and 31 of the Freedom of Information Act even though it is a private company.

Justice Yunusa had on April 28 delivered a similar judgment against Coscharis Motors Limited, which was involved in the transaction. The company has appealed the judgment.

The vehicles were said to have cost N255million.

Yesterday’s verdict was on a suit also filed by a group, Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, against the bank over its refusal to disclose the information following an application it made under the FOI Act on October 30, 2013.

Although First Bank claimed at the hearing that as a private company, it was not covered by the FOI Act, Justice Yunusa noted that the bank did not deny EIE’s claim that it collects levies and taxes on the government’s  behalf and is, therefore, a private company performing public functions within the meaning of the Act.

Justice Yunusa ruled that Sections 1(3) and 20 of the FOI Act give EIE the right to apply to the court to compel the First Bank to disclose the information that it applied for.

According to him, the bank did not give any reason for its refusal to disclose the information.