MOHAMMED LAWAL GARBA, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): By way of originating summons filed on the 4th of February, 2014, the Appellants instituted the suit No. B/17M/2014 before the High Court of Edo State, Benin, (trial court) against the Respondent in which they sought for the determination of the following question:-
"Whether the information sought after by the Applicant (sic) ought to be granted under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011."
The summons was brought pursuant to Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 (FIA), chapter IV of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Article 9 of African Charter on Human and Peoples' Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap 10, LFN1990 (ACHPR) and Section 6 (6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and sought for reliefs as follows:-
A. "DECLARATION that compulsory disclosure of information by agency of government is governed by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
B. DECLAR…