The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to release detailed information on the conditional cash transfer programme carried out between November 2024 and May 2025. The ruling, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako on November 3, 2025, came after a suit filed by Myson Nejo, a legal practitioner and governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In the judgment marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1222/2025, Justice Nyako ruled that Nejo was entitled to the information requested and directed the Ministry to provide it within seven days of the judgment. The decision reinforces transparency in the management of government social welfare programmes and aligns with the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
Nejo, through his lawyer, Vincent Adodo, sought three reliefs, including damages of N30,000,000. His request followed a claim made in May by the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, now the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that about six million Nigerians benefited from the conditional cash transfer programme within six months.
Following this claim, Nejo wrote to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs requesting the list of beneficiaries in the 18 local government areas of Ondo State and the amount disbursed to each council under the programme. The letter was submitted under the Freedom of Information Act.
In response, the office of the National Coordinator and Chief Executive of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) informed Nejo that it was still reviewing its archives to gather the requested data. However, after waiting without receiving the details, Nejo approached the court seeking an order compelling the Ministry to provide the information.
During Monday’s proceedings, Nejo’s lawyer, Adodo, moved the motion on notice, while counsel for the respondents, Ibrahim Moddibo, led by Noro Gwom, opposed the application. The respondent argued that the information requested was exempted from disclosure under the Act, citing concerns that releasing the data could violate the privacy of the beneficiaries.
In his reply, Adodo maintained that “the public interest involved in the disclosure of the information sought outweighs whatever inconvenience that could be occasioned to the beneficiaries,” emphasizing the need for transparency in the use of public funds.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nyako ruled that Nejo was entitled to the information and granted the reliefs sought. The court also awarded damages of N2,000,000 to Nejo, affirming that the Ministry must uphold accountability and transparency in all conditional cash transfer programmes.
