A request to halt the 2023 census has been declined by a federal high court in Abuja, News About Nigeria reports.
The federal government had previously announced that the census would take place between May 3 and May 5 of this year.
Omotuyi Ademola had filed an ex parte application seeking to postpone the census for an additional six months, citing underfunding and a lack of preparation by the National Population Commission (NPC) as reasons for his request.
However, the presiding judge, Inyang Ekwo, refused to grant the motion ex parte and instead asked the NPC to appear in court to demonstrate why the motion should not be granted.
The judge adjourned the matter until May 5.
In another motion, Victor Opatola, who is Ademola’s counsel, was granted an application for leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the NPC to provide him with information regarding the 2023 census.
The court granted this application and asked Rhoda Aransiola to file the application within seven days.
The matter was then adjourned until May 25 for a hearing.
Opatola’s application seeks an order that would grant him “comprehensive and detailed information” about the quality test assurance report on the devices and technology to be used in the 2023 census until judgment is delivered in the case within seven days.
Additionally, the application asks for an order granting Opatola leave to apply for an order of mandamus that would compel the defendant to furnish him with comprehensive and detailed information concerning any conflict of interest in the allotment of contracts or jobs given by or to contractors towards the 2023 census, until judgment is delivered within seven days.
Finally, Opatola requested that the court declare the NPC’s refusal to release the information or record requested a violation of the Freedom of Information Act and illegal and unconstitutional.
