LABOUR PARTY CHIEFTAIN DRAGS CCB TO COURT OVER OBI’S ASSET RECORDS
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
A Labour Party chieftain, Chief Abayomi Arabambi, has sued the Code of Conduct Bureau over its alleged refusal to release certified true copies of the asset declaration forms submitted by former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party, Peter Obi.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2504/2026, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Other respondents listed in the case are the Chairman of the CCB, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Arabambi, through his legal team led by Mr Oshoke Asimegbe, told the court that he had written two separate letters to the CCB on August 31 and October 8, 2026, requesting access to Obi’s asset declaration records under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
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He said the request specifically covered Obi’s asset declaration forms and all supporting documents submitted to the bureau in 2006, before he assumed office as governor of Anambra State, and in 2014, when he left office.
Obi governed Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance from March 17, 2006, to March 17, 2014.
Arabambi, who described himself as a Nigerian citizen and registered voter in Ogun State, argued that the CCB’s refusal to grant his request violated his rights under the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He is seeking a court declaration that his letters, which were duly received by the bureau, constitute valid requests for access to public information and official records under the FOI Act.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to declare that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have a constitutional responsibility to establish the terms and conditions governing public access to asset declaration documents.
He argued that their alleged failure to provide such guidelines, despite receiving his letters, amounted to a dereliction of their legal responsibilities.
Arabambi further challenged the reasons given by the CCB in a letter dated September 17, 2026, which he said was received on September 25, describing the bureau’s grounds for denying access to Obi’s asset declaration forms as unlawful and inconsistent with the FOI Act and the Constitution.
Among other reliefs, he is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the CCB and its chairman to release certified true copies of all asset declaration forms submitted by Obi in 2006 and 2014, alongside the supporting documents attached to them.
He also wants the court to compel the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to establish guidelines for members of the public seeking access to asset declaration records.
Additionally, the plaintiff is asking the court to order the disclosure of the requested documents under Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act if it determines that the respondents have no reasonable grounds to withhold them or that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest served by non-disclosure.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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