Group drags FG to court for allegedly spying on Nigerians with satellites

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has been sued by the Civic Society Organization (CSO) for its refusal to attend to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) made the request to the ministry on May 3, inquiring on the capabilities of two new satellites to be launched under it by the National Space and Research Development Agency.

Tomiwa Ilori, the program assistant for Paradigm Initiative’s Magoyi (ICT policy) program, said the group is taking the government to task because it has to be accountable.

He said, "At Paradigm Initiative, we understand the need to ensure that digital rights are respected and aside from having this as one of our most important mandates, we have recognized the need to mount guard in making this happen.

"This is not done because of the abundance of time and resources, but for the need to ensure that rights begin to form the fulcrum upon which technological innovations are made.

"Furthermore, we are keen on the crucial influence of digital rights on our dear country’s socio-political and socio-economic survival.

"This is not the first time we have turned to the Courts to have them safeguard digital rights in Nigeria.

"Even though a unique and novel turf, we are conscious of the fact that soon, we will be able to comfortably rely on the Court’s plethora of decided cases on digital rights to institutionalize its principles."

Another program manager with the group, Adeboye Adegoke, also emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, saying, "The need to make sure that we have rights-respecting institutions in Nigeria is almost a thankless job considering the unique structure of Nigeria as a country but it is a job that must be done.

"We will ensure that we get this matter to a logical conclusion and we implore Nigerians to join us in creating more awareness of the need to respect digital rights.

"Thankfully, Nigerians are beginning to get more interested in strategies to make sure that digital rights gain more footing as it is intrinsically linked to democratic principles of constitutionalism."

The group's executive director, Gbenga Sesan, also said, "If Nigeria must lead in Africa, she must also learn to teach by examples, one of which is ensuring that rights are respected whether online or offline.

"We understand the bureaucracies and back-breaking challenges that come with asking questions from authorities, especially in Nigeria but we are not going to allow that deter us."

The group said the ministry's refusal to honour the request, covered by the provision of the FOI Act 2011, has prompted its actions to go to court.

The hearing for the case before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in the Abuja will start on June 28, 2017.