We challenge laws and actions that are against the interest of citizens in court
Key Court Cases
Ongoing Cases
The respondents’ blockage of Twitter access was declared unlawful, unconstitutional, and against freedom of expression, and an injunction was issued prohibiting further blocking or interference with the platform.
Court: Federal High Court, Lagos
Next Court Date: Adjourned till March 20, 2024
Olumide Babalola, a consumer rights lawyer, filed a class action suit at the Lagos High Court on behalf of subscribers of GSM services who may have received unsolicited calls or messages.
Court: Court of Appeal
Next court date: An application will be sent to the registry to find the misplaced missing case file
EiE, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) sued to repeal Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act.
Court: Supreme Court
Next court date: Awaiting date for hearing at the Supreme Court.
Asks the court to declare comments made by some political aides in Nigeria as Hate speeches.
Court: High Court of FCT
Note: The case has yet to be assigned a suit number and a judge. Efforts are underway to track its assignment to a Judge as well as a suit number.
Lawsuits on #StellaGate with First Bank
Court: Court of Appeal
Next Court Date: The case was scheduled for a hearing on June 21, 2023. Unfortunately, the court did not sit on that particular day, and no further update has been shared about another hearing date.
Lawsuits on #StellaGate with NCAA
Court: Court of Appeal
Next Court Date: Despite both counsels’ joint efforts, the matter is not yet fixed for a hearing.
EiE, BudgIT, SERAP and over 6,000 active citizens challenged the legality of the Senate’s expenditure of N5.5 billion on new luxury cars.
Court: Federal High Court, Lagos
Note: A case search is underway to determine the date and reason for the striking out of the case, which will form the basis of its future relisting.
Concluded Cases
The suit sought the reversal of some portions (sections 3, 5 and 6) of the newly passed Lagos State Land Use Charge, 2018, for being inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
Court: Lagos State High Court
Judgement: Judgement was delivered against us. The Court said EiE does not have locus standi as we could not show that they have once paid Land Use Charge in the past.
Co-Applicant on Suit to Compel Saraki, Dogara to Account for N500 billion
Court: Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Note: EiE has withdrawn from the suit.
Suit to compel 53 lawmakers who switched parties to vacate their seats as it forces an interpretation of the Constitution.
Court: Federal High Court, Abuja
Judgement: Struck out because the complainants were not in the constituency.
Court:
Note: The case was adjourned, and the judge waited for over three months before sitting, leading to its dismissal.
Suit to compel EFCC, ICPC and the Nigerian Police to probe and investigate Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje on the alleged
bribery videos.
Court: Federal High Court, Abuja
Note: Struck out because we didn’t have locus.
EiE sued INEC for violating the Freedom of Information Act (2011) by failing to release the breakdown of 2019 card reader accreditation data.
Court: Federal High Court, Lagos
Note: Struck out in 2022 by Justice Aneke of the Federal High Court
EiE and Tunde Onifade filed a petition against Lekki Concession Company because of the panel’s approval for the reopening of Lekki tollgate while the petition with the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality has not being heard.
Court: Federal High Court, Lagos
Note: Struck out because it has been overtaken by events.
A suit to restrain the National Assembly from further deliberation and consideration about the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill.
Court: Court of Appeal
Note: Judgement delivered on February 4, 2019, but not in our favour.
Following the ‘scandal’ regarding extra-budgetary purchases of cars from Cosharis via First Bank by the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, EiE wrote FoI requests to the 3 stakeholders and none responded.
EiE sued them.
Court: Court of Appeal
Note: The judgment was delivered on February 23, 2022.
Judgement: The three judges set aside the ruling of the lower Court and ruled in favour of the Appellant
Court: Federal High Court of Lagos State, Ikoyi
Judgement: In June 2021, the court ruled in our favor and ordered the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to adjust the salaries and allowances of 469 National Assembly members.
Banks/Stamp duties class action
Court:
Note: The matter was struck out because of a pending appeal at the Supreme Court on the same subject matter.
An active citizen, Bisi Ariyo, filed a class action suit on behalf of unmetered customers of Eko and Ikeja DISCOs who have high estimated billing. EiE helped curate the list of complainants.
Court: Lagos State High Court (TBS)
Note: Struck out in 2022 by Justice Safari of Lagos State High Court.