The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), has been directed by a Federal High Court in Lagos to pay N300,000 in exemplary and aggravated damages to Ms. Blessing Oladunjoye, the Publisher of BONews.
The court found YABATECH guilty of a flagrant and unlawful violation of Oladunjoye’s right to information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Justice Daniel Emeka Osiagor delivered the judgment in response to a suit filed by Oladunjoye against YABATECH and its rector. The court not only awarded damages but also mandated the institution to provide Oladunjoye with all the information she had requested.
The legal battle, initiated by Lagos-based lawyer Mr. Owolabi Dawodu on behalf of Oladunjoye, centered on YABATECH’s failure to grant access to information requested in a letter dated October 26, 2020. The court held that this refusal violated Oladunjoye’s right of access to information as outlined in Sections 1(1) and 4 of the FOI Act.
Oladunjoye sought various reliefs, including an order for YABATECH to disclose the requested information and payment of N1 million as exemplary and aggravated damages.
Justice Osiagor, while disagreeing with YABATECH’s claim that the information fell under FOI Act exemptions, granted all reliefs except for reducing the damage claim to N300,000.
The judgment emphasized the importance of compliance with the FOI Act and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Regulations 2019. Justice Osiagor cited the NITDA Act of 2007, highlighting its mandate to develop regulations for electronic communication that enhance data exchange.
