The President's Office has refused to disclose whether President Mohamed Muizzu has submitted his annual financial statements to the Auditor General as mandated by the Constitution, declining a request by Adhadhu to access the documents.
Adhadhu submitted two inquiries: 1. Whether President Mohamed Muizzu submitted financial statements to the Auditor General’s Office for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026; and 2. A request for copies of the submitted statements.
Under Article 120 of the Constitution, the President is required to submit an annual statement to the Auditor General disclosing all assets and monies owned, business interests, and liabilities.
In justifying the refusal to provide the information, the President's Office cited Article 72 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Referencing subsection (d) of the article, the office stated it could not verify that "Adhadhu Online" is a legal entity. The response further noted that the information would not be released until documentation verifying the outlet's legal status is provided.
Responding to the refusal, Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa characterised the move as an excuse to withhold information regarding a constitutional obligation.
"Is Adhadhu barred from entering the President's Office because it is not a legal entity? That is just one question. These are just excuses to avoid accountability," Fiyaz said.
Fiyaz further asserted that the Information Officer’s refusal to provide the data is a direct violation of the Constitution and the law, confirming that the matter has now been appealed to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
