2nd January, 2013
Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, has written to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi to furnish details of his salary, allowances and others to him under the Freedom of Information Act, FOI, within seven days or face legal action.
Aturu wrote to Sanusi on behalf of his client, an advocate of the Supreme Court, Anthony Itedjere.
Aturu, in a letter to the CBN Governor dated 31 December, 2012 said his client is acting in accordance with section 1, 3 and 4 of the FOI Act to demand for the information.
According to the letter, “our client is interested in certain information which is in possession and or custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as ‘the bank’) and your office. Kindly provide the information to the best of your knowledge in the interest of transparency and openness which you have been advertised as championing.
“You are hereby specifically requested to make available to our client or grant to him access to: The Central Bank Act provides that your salary, fee, wages or other remuneration or allowances shall be stipulated from time to time by the Board subject to the approval of the President; How much is your total remuneration (that is salary plus allowances) per month? Do you charge the Bank or the Federal Government of Nigeria any fee outside your monthly remuneration? If so, state any such fee you have received since becoming the Governor of the bank.
“Do you travel business class or economy within Nigeria? Do you travel first class, business class or economy when travelling out of Nigeria? Have you ever used chartered plane for any of your travels within and outside Nigeria? If your answer to the above is in the affirmative, kindly list all such instances specifying the dates, the airline(s), the cost and the duration of the charter?” he requested.
Other information Aturu’s client is seeking from the CBN’s governor are: “Does the Bank own an aircraft? If so, what is the cost of the air craft and the cost of its servicing and maintenance? How many drivers are attached to your office by the bank? How many cleaners are attached to your office by the bank?
“How many drivers are attached to your house by the bank? How many cleaners are attached to your house by the bank? How much is your monthly imprest? When you travel within Nigeria, how much is your allowance? When you travel outside Nigeria, how much is your allowance? When last did you spend your personal money on purchasing fuel since you became the Governor of the bank?”
The letter added: “if you think that another agency of the government has greater interest in the information requested for, you are obliged under Section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to transfer this request to the other agency within 3 days, howbeit not later than 7 days of receiving this request.
“Our client shall pay the necessary fees for the information. Be notified that if you fail to provide the above information within the period stipulated by law, we shall proceed against you in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
—Kazeem Ugbodaga