written notice of the transfer to the applicant, which notice shall contain a statement informing
the applicant that such decision to transfer the application can be reviewed by a Court.
(2) Where an application is transferred under subsection (1), the application shall be deemed to
have been made to the public institution to which it was transferred on the day the public
institution received it.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a public institution has “a greater interest” in information
if –
(a) the information was originally produced in or for the institution; or
(b) in the case of information not originally produced in or for the public institution,
the institution was the first public institution to receive the information.
7. The public institution may extend the time limit set out in section 5 or subsection 6 (1) in Extension of
time limit for
respect of an application for a time not exceeding 7 days; if –
granting or
(a) the application is for a large number of records and meeting the original time limit refusing
application.
would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public institution; or
(b) consultations are necessary to comply with the application that cannot reasonably be
completed within the original time limit, by giving notice of the extension stating
whether the extension falls under the circumstances set out in paragraphs (a) or (b),
which notice shall contain a statement that the applicant has a right to have the decision
to extend the time limit reviewed by a Court.
8. (1) Where the government or public institution refuses to give access to a record or Where access is
information applied for under this Bill, or a part thereof, the institution shall state in the notice refused.
given to the applicant the grounds for the refusal, the specific provision of this Bill that it relates
to and that the applicant has a right to challenge the decision refusing access and have it
reviewed by a Court.
(2) Any notification of denial of any application for information or records shall set forth the
names, designation and signature, of each person responsible for the denial of such application.
(3) The government or public institution shall be required to indicate under subsection (1)
whether the information or record exists.
(4) Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record
applied for under this Bill or part thereof within the time limit set out in this Bill, the institution
shall, for the purposes of this Bill, be deemed to have refused to give access.
(5) Where a case of wrongful denial of access is established, the defaulting officer or institution
shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N500,000.00 (Five hundred thousand naira)
Page 4 of 13 House of Reps.