[sic] of the Supplementary Protocol on the court, no. A/SP./1/01/05 that could be ordered for having failed
to perform official act.
25. Another order sought by the Applicant was that the government of Nigeria should recognize school
teachers' trade union freedoms, and to solicit the views of teachers throughout the process of educational
planning and policy-making. There is no evidence in support of this. Besides, this is not a human rights
issue, whether the government will include another organization in the planning and execution of its
programmes. Be that as it may, the Act which established the second defendant, which they annexed to
their document, shows that the teachers are not ignored as the applicant wants to imply from the order
sought. The Nigeria Union of Teachers, as well as the National Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria,
and the National Teachers Institute are all represented on the board of the second defendant.
Decision
26. In the light of the foregoing analysis of the facts, the Court is able to decide as follows:
Relief 1. The defendants do not contest the fact that every Nigerian child is entitled to free and compulsory
basic education. What they earlier on said was that the right to education was not justiciable in Nigeria, but
the court in its earlier ruling of 27th October 2009 in this case, decided it was justiciable under the ACHPR.
27. Relief 2. As stated already, the report provides only prima facie and not conclusive evidence of the facts
stated therein, and there is no judicial pronouncement on these findings. Also the alleged suspects are not
parties before us in this action, so this court is unable to make any declaration of illegality or
unconstitutionality in this matter.
28. Relief 3. The applicant is saying that following the diversion of funds, there is insufficient money
available to the basic education sector. We have earlier referred to the fact that embezzlement or theft of
part of the funds allocated to the basic education sector will have a negative impact; this is normal since
shortage of funds will disable the sector from performing as envisaged by those who approved the budget.
Thus, whilst steps are being taken to recover the funds or prosecute the suspects, as the case may be, it is
in order that the first defendant should take the necessary steps to provide the money to cover the shortfall
to ensure a smooth implementation of the education programme, lest a section of the people should be
denied a right to education.
29. Relief 4. The court cannot grant this order for the arrest and prosecution of the alleged suspects for
reasons already explained.
30. Reliefs 5 and 6. For lack of evidence these orders are refused.
31. In conclusion, subject to reliefs 1 and 3 which the court grants in terms as stated above, the court
rejects all the other reliefs and orders sought.
32. Costs.
Since the matter succeeds in part the parties shall bear their own costs.
This decision has been read in open court in Abuja this 30th day of November 2010 in the presence of
Hon. Justice Hansine N. Donli...................Presiding
Hon. Justice Anthony A. Benin...................Member
Hon. Justice Soumana D. Sidibe...................Member
Assisted by Mr. Tony Anene-Maidoh...................Chief Registrar
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