The Freedom of Information Bill, 2012
Commission to have powers of a
court
23. (1) In the performance of its functions under this Act, the
Commission shall have the powers of a court to –
(a) issue summonses or other orders requiring the attendance
of any person before the Commission and the production
of any document or record relevant to any investigation
by the Commission;
(b) question any person in respect of any subject matter under
investigation before the Commission;
(c) require any person to disclose any information within such
person’s knowledge relevant to any investigation by the
Commission
(2) The Commission may, if satisfied that there has been an
infringement of the provisions of this Act, order –
(a) the release of any information withheld unlawfully;
(b) the payment of compensation; or
(c) any other lawful remedy or redress
(3) A person or authority dissatisfied with an order made by the
Commission under subsection (2) may appeal to the High Court
within twenty-one days from the date the order was made.
(4) An order of the Commission under subsection (2) may be filed in
the High Court by any party thereto in such manner as the
Commission may, in regulations made in consultation with the Chief
Justice, prescribe and such party shall give written notice of the filing
of the order to all other parties within thirty days of the date of the
filing of the order.
(5) If no appeal is filed under subsection (3), the party in favour of
whom the order is made by the Commission may apply ex-parte by
summons for leave to enforce such order as a decree, and the order
may be executed in the same manner as an order of the High Court to
the like effect.
(6) A person who –
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