The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to disclose the names of beneficiaries and disbursement details of its conditional cash transfer programme in Ondo State. The court also awarded N2 million in damages to the plaintiff.
Delivering judgment on Monday, November 3, 2025, in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1222/2025, Hon. Justice Binta Nyako ruled in favor of Myson Nejo, a legal practitioner and governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the November 2024 Ondo State election. The court ordered the Ministry to furnish Nejo with the requested information within seven days.
Nejo, through his counsel, Vincent Adodo, had sought the disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2011. The request covered the 18 local government areas of Ondo State and included the amount disbursed to each. The action followed the Ministry’s failure to respond to his request, despite assurances from the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) that the information would be provided.
At the proceedings, the Ministry, represented by Ibrahim Moddibo, opposed the application, arguing that disclosure could violate the privacy of beneficiaries. Adodo countered that public interest in transparency and accountability for public funds outweighed any privacy concerns.
Justice Nyako agreed with the plaintiff, holding that the public has a right to know how government funds are being utilized and that transparency in such programmes is paramount. The court ruled the Ministry’s earlier refusal as improper and unconstitutional.
The court awarded N2 million in damages to Nejo for the delay and non-compliance with his information request, while directing the Ministry to promptly provide the full details of the beneficiaries and fund allocation within the stipulated timeframe.