The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is facing increased scrutiny over its management of public funds, foreign investments, and flagship development projects following a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit seeking extensive disclosures from the agency.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the suit demands details of billions of naira in statutory allocations, foreign investment arrangements, development financing agreements, and the implementation status of major projects undertaken by the agency between 2023 and 2026.
The applicant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2026 is Aigbokhan President, while Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu and two others are defendants. The suit followed the agency's alleged failure to respond within the statutory period to an FOI request addressed to NASENI's Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, by the applicant.
The applicant is seeking a declaration that NASENI's refusal to provide information relating to rural electrification projects, irrigation infrastructure, technology deployment initiatives, and other public programmes violates the provisions of the FOI Act, 2011.
Core Demands
At the centre of the dispute are demands for a comprehensive account of the administration of the NASENI Statutory Fund, including revenues generated from the agency's statutory 0.25 per cent levy on the profits of companies operating in Nigeria, federal government appropriations, foreign investments, and development financing arrangements.
The request also seeks records relating to some of NASENI's most prominent investment announcements, including the reported $2 billion Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Programme (AMEDP), partnerships with foreign institutions, and programmes aimed at advancing local manufacturing and technology transfer.
International Partnerships
Further disclosures are also sought on agreements reportedly entered into with international partners, including arrangements involving the China Development Bank and Chinese technical partners, in relation to solar cell manufacturing projects. The applicant is also demanding information on the agency's reported $425 million solar production expansion programme, including details of financing structures, private-sector co-investors, local content commitments, project milestones, and implementation outcomes.
According to the applicant, the information sought is necessary to assess whether public resources allocated to strategic industrial and technological development initiatives have been effectively deployed.
“This case signals a growing insistence on measurable accountability in public spending,” the applicant, Aigbokhan, stated. “NASENI occupies a strategic position in the management of public resources earmarked for industrial development, renewable energy, local manufacturing and technological advancement. Consequently, the agency's records are germane to the industrial revolution of the country.”
Court records indicate that on June 3, 2026, the Federal High Court granted leave for judicial review and subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22, 2026, for further proceedings. The case is expected to test the extent of transparency obligations imposed on public agencies responsible for administering substantial public funds and international investment portfolios.
