A prominent stakeholder within the Labour Party, Chief Abayomi Arabambi, has taken legal action against the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the agency's refusal to provide certified true copies of asset declaration records belonging to political figure Peter Obi. Filed under the case file FHC/ABJ/CS/2504/2026, the lawsuit also joins the Chairman of the CCB, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the second through fourth respondents.
What are the specific details of the legal action?
Represented by a legal team headed by Mr. Oshoke Asimegbe, the plaintiff stated that he formally applied for the documents through correspondence dated August 31 and October 8, 2026. Leveraging the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, Arabambi sought access to the asset forms and supporting records submitted by Obi prior to his inauguration as Governor of Anambra State in 2006, as well as the documentation filed upon the completion of his tenure in 2014.
Obi governed the South-East state under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) across two terms from March 2006 to March 2014. Arabambi, identifying as a registered voter from Ogun State, argued that the denial of his application violates his rights under the amended 1999 Constitution.
Why is the plaintiff seeking a mandamus order?
The applicant wants the court to rule that his written requests complied fully with transparency laws and that the reasons provided by the CCB in a letter dated September 17, 2026, to justify withholding the files are invalid. Furthermore, the suit seeks directives compelling the leadership of the National Assembly to establish formal terms and conditions governing public access to asset records, arguing that legislative inaction has created an unlawful regulatory vacuum.
As of reporting time, judicial authorities have yet to schedule a formal date for the commencement of hearings on the substantive matter.