A federal high court in Abuja has issued a directive to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to provide a detailed account of the expenditure of a $460 million Chinese loan allocated for the “failed” Abuja closed-circuit television (CCTV) project.

Judge Emeka Nwite delivered this order while ruling on the freedom of information suit filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The court instructed the government to disclose the total amount of money paid to both Chinese and local companies and contractors, along with specific details regarding their identities, and to provide information on the project’s implementation.

The lawsuit was filed in December 2019 after SERAP accused the finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, of failing to disclose information and specific documents related to the funds disbursed to contractors for the Abuja CCTV project, which was financed by a $460 million loan obtained from China in 2010.

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Judge Nwite agreed with SERAP’s argument that there was a justifiable cause of action against the government, emphasizing the public interest in holding the government accountable for the loan expenditure.

The judge further highlighted that the finance minister, being responsible for the country’s finances, cannot be unaware of the funds allocated to the contractors involved in the CCTV contract and the construction of the Code of Conduct Bureau headquarters.

In response to the ruling, the government is mandated to furnish SERAP with information on the total amount paid to contractors, including the names of local and Chinese companies involved, as well as provide updates on the project’s status.

Additionally, the court ordered clarification on whether the reported N1.5 billion mobilization fee paid to contractors for the Code of Conduct Bureau headquarters construction was part of another loan from China.