•••Commissioners’ Asset Declarations
The Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, has delivered two landmark judgments compelling the State Government to release long-withheld financial and accountability records under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
In the rulings delivered on Thursday, September 11, 2025, Justice T.M. Adedipe granted the applications of Akure-based legal practitioner, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, in Suits HCAK/294/CIV/2025 and HCAK/299/CIV/2025.
The court ordered the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, to furnish within seven days certified true copies of documents detailing disbursements from the Joint Local Government Account to the 18 local government councils in the state between January and July 2025.
In the second case, Justice Adedipe directed the State House of Assembly to produce evidence of assets and liabilities declared by all 18 commissioners screened and confirmed by the legislature between February and July 2025, in line with Section 192 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Attorney-General of Ondo State, representing both the Finance Commissioner and the House of Assembly, had challenged the competence of the suits, arguing that the information sought was “personal” and exempt from disclosure.
The court dismissed these objections, ruling that the documents relate to public funds and constitutional requirements, and cannot be shielded from public scrutiny.
Justice Adedipe further rejected the argument that the Federal Government should have been joined in the matter concerning local government allocations, clarifying that the responsibility rests with the State Government under Section 162 (6) of the Constitution.
Speaking after the ruling, Emodamori described the judgments as “a bold step towards accountability and transparency in governance,” stressing that Nigerians deserve unrestricted access to information about how public officials handle state resources.
He revealed that both suits were filed on August 22, 2025, with affidavits of urgency, heard on September 10, and concluded within 24 hours.
“These judgments have expanded our legal jurisprudence and strengthened the people’s right to hold their leaders accountable,” he said.
The rulings are already generating intense political discourse in Ondo State, with analysts predicting that the enforcement of the orders could unearth details with far-reaching implications for the government.
