Rugby

A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed a date for the hearing of the FOI Act suit filed against the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF).

The case under Suit No LHC/L/CS//2020 was fixed for hearing on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

In the suit, counsel to the applicant Nwobodo Esq. prayed the Court to compel the Rugby Federation to comply with the provisions of the Act. A case of wrongful denial is been sought in the prayer of the Counsel .

Prior to filing the suit, this writer served a two-page FOI Act request to the President of the NRFF. It was received on February 3, 2020 at the office of the federation.

The request sought to get information on how the Federation secured funds to bankroll an office apartment situated at No 18 Ayinde Giwa street in Surulere, Lagos amongst others. The rented apartment is suspected to cost the Rugby Federation N5million per annum.

However, the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation disregarded the request. This led to counsel to the applicant invoking relevant sections of the Act to compel the President of the Rugby Federation to comply.

The case which was assigned to Hon. Justice Oyetenu was earlier scheduled to be heard for Monday April 27^th, 2020. But all court actions were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Another date for hearing was scheduled for August 27, 2020. But it did not hold as the court was on vacation, before a new date was fixed for December 1, 2020.