Ogun Govt, Dapo Abiodun Loses to NLM, As Court Orders Disclosure Of Details Of 45-Year ARISE IIP Deal

A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta has ordered the Ogun State Government to disclose full details of its 45-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), following a legal challenge by the Naija Lives Matter movement.

The order, delivered by Justice Abiodun J. Adeyemi, comes after a seven-month legal battle initiated by the group’s founder, Dr. Ope Banwo, through his lawyer, Yemi Salman.

According to court documents, the suit was filed over the Ogun State Government’s alleged refusal to release documents relating to the Remo Economic Industrial Cluster project in Sagamu.

The court reportedly held that the Freedom of Information Act applies to the Ogun State Government and its agencies, and that public institutions cannot deny access to information on major public contracts without lawful justification.

Entities affected by the ruling include the Ogun State Government, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Office of the Attorney-General.

At the centre of the dispute is a long-term PPP agreement between the state government and ARISE IIP for industrial development in Sagamu. The advocacy group had raised concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the structure, financing, and execution of the deal.

Reacting to the development, Banwo described the ruling as a major step for accountability, stating that citizens have a right to scrutinise agreements involving public resources.

“This is about the right of the people to know how a long-term agreement involving public assets was structured. The court has affirmed that such information cannot be withheld,” he said.

Naija Lives Matter is now calling for full compliance with the court order within 14 days. The group is seeking the release of key documents, including the full PPP agreement, details of investors, funding structure, land allocation, procurement process, environmental impact assessments, and internal government approvals.

The ruling places the Ogun State Government under pressure to respond promptly and comply with the directive.

Observers say the case could have wider implications for transparency in public-private partnerships, particularly those involving long-term commitments and significant public resources.

With the compliance deadline in view, attention is now on how the Ogun State Government will respond to the court’s directive.