Founder of Naija Lives Matter (NLM), Dr. Ope Banwo, has described the group’s recent court victory against the Ogun State Government as a major win for transparency and the public’s right to information.
Banwo’s reaction followed a ruling by a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, which ordered the Ogun State Government to disclose full details of its 45-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP).
The judgment, delivered by Justice Abiodun Adeyemi, mandates the state government and relevant ministries to release key documents relating to the industrial development project located in Sagamu.
“This judgment is a clear directive that the Ogun State Government must open up the details of its 45-year contract with ARISE IIP,” Banwo said.
“This is not about speculation. It is about the right of the people to know how a long-term agreement involving public resources was structured. The court has affirmed that this information cannot be hidden.”
The suit, marked FHC/AB/CS/105/2025, was filed by Banwo through his counsel, Barrister Yemi Salman, after what NLM described as repeated refusals by the state government to provide information on the Remo Economic Industrial Cluster project.
Banwo said the ruling represents a defining moment for governance and accountability in Ogun State, noting that it offers the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun an opportunity to demonstrate respect for the rule of law.
“We believe the governor now has a chance to choose transparency over secrecy and accountability over avoidance,” he stated.
“Disobedience of a lawful court order is not just a legal issue; it is a public accountability issue.”
He expressed confidence that the state government would comply with the court’s directive within the 14-day timeline reportedly set for the release of the documents.
According to NLM, the documents sought include the full PPP agreement, details of investors, funding structure, land allocation, procurement process, environmental impact assessments, and internal government approvals.
The group maintained that legal action became necessary after multiple requests for the information were allegedly ignored, despite provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
