A human rights lawyer and Activist, Mr. Joseph Onu Silas has again written the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in connection to a N5billion gold transaction between the CBN and Government of Zamfara State, requesting for the full details of the transactions pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
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TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that Mr. Silas had initially written the CBN Governor urging him to cancel the alleged transaction, noting that it was unlawful and a flagrant violation of the relevant Laws.
Meanwhile, he has however made a new request pursuant to the FOI Act in a letter dated 3rd day of December 2020 which was was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer.
“Recall that on 8th October 2020 I wrote to your good office in respect of the abovementioned subject matter and requested for explanation on why your office in cahoot with the Zamfara State Government is trading on Gold which is the exclusive property of the Federal Government of Nigeria as clearly established by our Constitution and Mineral Resources Act” he said.
However, he said the Zamfara State Government gave “flimsy denial” and while some “inexcusable explanations (came) from the Minister of Solid Minerals and his staff”, adding that “nothing substantial has come out” from the CBN providing explanations regarding the ‘involvement of CBN in such an unholy transaction’.
Consequently, he said he is making a formal request on “(1) communications and agreements between CBN and Zamfara State Government in respect of this deal, (2) the documents showing necessary approval of the N 5 billion to be used for such purchase, (3) The legal justification for embarking on such transaction and (4) Evidence showing that the transaction was not pushed to conclusion”.
Furthermore, he gave the CBN an ultimatum of seven days within which to comply with the FOI request or leaves him “with no option than to litigate the unlawful transaction and breach of the FOI Act”.
Finally, he added that it is his hope that “reason will prevail over pride as you act on this letter with the needed dispatch”.
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