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UK government ‘waging secret war against transparency’

The UK government has been accused of waging a secret war against transparency, using an array of tactics to block the release of information to the public.

In a report published on Monday, the investigative journalism website openDemocracy alleged that last year was the worst year for transparency since the Freedom of Information Act came into force in 2005.

It highlighted the government’s own figures that show that in 2020, 41% of freedom of information requests by the public to central government departments were granted in full. Government statisticians acknowledge that “this is the lowest figure since recording started in 2005”.

The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for freedom of information, dismissed the report as “complete nonsense” and showing “a total misunderstanding” of the act. It said the Covid pandemic had left fewer resources available to answer freedom of information requests from the public.

However, an analysis of the government’s annual reports on the Freedom of Information Act shows a consistent fall in the number of requests being granted in full over the last decade. This is also acknowledged by government statisticians who describe what they call either a “downward” or “decreasing” trend.

The Cabinet Office disputed whether this measurement was an accurate way of assessing the level of transparency within Whitehall, arguing that some requests would always be rejected in full because they concerned sensitive areas such as the working of cabinet committees.

The report by openDemocracy comes amid sustained criticism that the government is unjustly blocking the release of information to members of the public who seek to scrutinise the work of official organisations.

In February, national newspaper editors called on the government to protect the act, which gives the public a legal right to request information from public bodies.

In its report, openDemocracy highlights how MPs are being blocked from accessing information. The Conservative MP David Davis unsuccessfully sought details of opinion polls commissioned by the government that could give ministers a political advantage.

Davis said: “When Whitehall is this desperate to avoid publishing the information, the question has to be asked what decisions are they trying to prevent the public from knowing about?”

Peter Geoghegan, openDemocracy’s editor, said: “The UK government is waging a secret war against freedom of information. And it is winning. This concerns us all because government secrecy is toxic. If left unchecked, it can conceal incompetence and corruption.”

OpenDemocracy’s report accuses the government of exploiting a series of loopholes to delay the public’s access to information, or stonewalling requesters by failing to answer.

Public bodies are entitled to request more time to consider whether to release information. But openDemocracy said evidence suggested that this was often used simply to delay responses to sensitive requests.

OpenDemocracy also said emails had shown that political advisers working for ministers were vetting requests before decisions were made on whether to release information.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “This report is complete nonsense. It shows a total misunderstanding of the FoI Act and government processes, while misleading readers with outdated statistics.

“As the public would expect, during 2020 government departments were dealing with an unprecedented pandemic. The focus was on saving lives and the NHS, and as the independent Information Commissioner’s Office recognised, this left fewer resources available to deal with FoI requests.”

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Court orders EFCC to return $20,000 bribe money collected by its officers to lawful owner

The Ikeja Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos has ruled that the bribe money demanded and collected by operatives of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2019 be released to the owner, Mr Olalekan Abdul.
Justice Mojisola Dada (Mrs) gave the orders on April 30, 2025.
A certified true copy of the ruling reads:- An Order granting delivery and/or restoration to the Defendant of the sum of $20,000:00 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) property of the Defendant (Olalekan Abdul) tendered and admitted as Exhibit B at the trial proceeding of 8/3/2023 and ordered to be held and kept in escrow Domiciliary Account in Polaris Bank, Ikeja in the name of the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State in pending completion of this case (now – concluded) be and is hereby granted.
In the same vein, the court also granted the leave as follows “That an Order lifting the lien on and directing the release to the Defendant (Olalekan Abdul) of the sum of N10,000,000:00 (Ten Million Naira only) held in Defendant’s Surety’s Mrs. Jemilat
Oluremi Yusuf – Sada’s Access Bank Account No. 1374520332 as condition for Defendant’s bail (as per the Ruling of this Honourable Court dated 31″ day of January 2020) pending completion of his trial on the charge. In this matter (now concluded) be and i s hereby
granted.

Recall that the same court had on March 5, 2025 discharged and acquitted the Chairman of Cleanserve, Azubuike Ishiekwene, and the Managing Director/CEO Olalekan Abdul of the case of fraud and forgery made against them by a nominal complainant.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially arraigned the defendants on a 26-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, using false documents without authority, possessing fraudulent documents, stealing and making documents without authority.
The Commission was acting at the behest of a nominal complainant, a certain Mr. Chris Ndulue, who claimed he was a director in the private company but was not in the file of the Corporate Affairs Commission and had no valid proxy.
Ishiekwene and Abdul, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge following their arraignment on January 30, 2020.
During the pendency of the charge, which started five years ago with suit number ID/11126C/2019, the prosecution had called nine witnesses, while the defence had called four witnesses.
Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) appeared for the first defendant, Abdul, and Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) appeared for Ishiekwene, the second defendant.

Following a series of applications, one of which challenged the EFCC’s use of a fiat by Lagos State in a case in which the defence counsel argued that a $20,000 bribe had compromised an operative and that the prosecution was on a mission of “persecution,” the office of the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), stepped in and took over the matter after a review.
Before the Lagos State AG stepped in, the court had ordered the recovery of the $20,000 from the custody of the EFCC and admitted the same as an exhibit.
During the investigation, an EFCC operative demanded a bribe in 2019 to “kill the matter” because, according to him, the facts suggested that Ndulue had no case.
A report of the demand was made through Mr. Ola Olukoyede (then the Secretary of the Commission), who ordered a sting operation in Lagos, during which other EFCC operatives apprehended the operative.
When the report reached the then-chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, he squashed it, redeployed the operative who had demanded a bribe, and turned the case against the defendants who had reported the operative.

News

Two trucks collide, crush dispatch riders on Eko Bridge

Two dispatch riders lost their lives following a crash involving two fully loaded Mack trucks, with registration numbers; T-10357 LA, and KJA 107 XM.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this in a statement on Sunday.

The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA .

Bakare-Oki noted that the accident occurred Sunday morning on the Eko Bridge, inward Alaka corridor.

“Preliminary findings suggest that the driver of one of the articulated trucks, reportedly driving at an excessive speed while allegedly dozing off, lost control of the vehicle.

“The truck then careened into another moving trucks ahead of it, triggering a violent impact.

“This collision led to the dislodgement of a 20-foot container from one of the trucks, which subsequently crushed two unsuspecting dispatch riders who were navigating the route at the time.

“Both victims were confirmed dead at the scene,” he said.

He added that the swift and coordinated response from LASTMA officers, who were on routine traffic monitoring duty beneath the Eko Bridge, ensured the immediate rescue of one severely injured truck driver.

He said the driver was promptly transported to a nearby hospital in a Lagos State Government ambulance for urgent medical attention.

He, added that however, the remaining two truck drivers absconded from the scene, presumably out of fear of the grim aftermath.

“Investigations are currently underway to trace and apprehend the fleeing drivers involved in the fatal crash.

“To forestall further incidents and safeguard other road users, LASTMA personnel immediately cordoned off the affected stretch of the bridge and redirected vehicular traffic through the Coastain Roundabout inward Alaka en route to Stadium,” he said.

Bakare-Oki consoled the bereaved families, while expressing deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.

He reiterated the critical importance of responsible driving, particularly for operators of articulated vehicles.

The LASTMA boss urged all drivers to exercise utmost caution, maintain full alertness, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before commencing any journey.

Bakare-Oki further emphasised the agency’s ongoing, robust public enlightenment campaigns aimed at instilling safety consciousness among drivers, especially those operating heavy-duty vehicles.

Other emergency responders at the scene of the accident includes: Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LSNSC), State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) and Police man from Iporin Division of the State.

News

Army probes alleged assault on female food vendor by soldier in Benue

The Nigerian Army has commenced an investigation into the alleged assault of a female food vendor identified as Dooshima, by one Private Christopher Emmanuel in Kula, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident which occurred on May 6, 2025 but was officially reported on May 8, is said to have stemmed from a disagreement over an unpaid debt.

Preliminary reports allege that the confrontation escalated after the soldier claimed the vendor insulted him during a phone conversation.

Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 401 Special Forces Brigade, Makurdi, Captain Abdullahi Lawal Osabo, in a statement on assured the public that justice would be served and reaffirmed its zero tolerance for human rights violations.
He added that Private Emmanuel is currently in custody pending the outcome of the investigation.

“The Headquarters Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) has taken cognizance of an incident involving Private Christopher Emmanuel and a female vendor, Doshima, which occurred on 6 May 2025 but reported on 8 May 2025, in Kula, Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State,” the statement read.

“According to reports, the incident may have stemmed from a dispute over an unpaid debt, with allegations suggesting that the soldier claimed the woman insulted him during a phone conversation. It is further alleged that this confrontation may have escalated into a physical altercation, which is now under thorough investigation.

“Private Christopher Emmanuel is currently in custody, and a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for human rights abuses and will take disciplinary action based on findings of the investigation.

“The leadership of the Nigerian Army assures the general public and the victim that justice will be served in line with the military’s high standards. OPWS strongly condemns any form of indiscipline or human rights abuse by its personnel.

“Members of the public are advised to report any instances of abuse by Nigerian Army personnel to the Human Rights Desk helpline instead of running to the social media in the first instance.

“All reports of infractions by Nigerian Army personnel are viewed seriously, investigated and sanctions applied where personnel are found culpable. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.”