• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home Anti-Corruption SERAP to Buhari: Allow audit committee on recovered loot to cover OBJ,...
  • Anti-Corruption

SERAP to Buhari: Allow audit committee on recovered loot to cover OBJ, Yar’Adua, Jonathan’s govts

By
Adetokunbo Mumuni
-
December 10, 2017
President Muhammad Buhari
President Muhammad Buhari

SERAP to Buhari: Allow audit committee on recovered loot to cover OBJ, Yar’Adua, Jonathan’s govts

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari “welcoming the inauguration of the Audit Committee on the Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets as a partial fulfilment of the judgment by Justice Idris,” and requesting him to use his “leadership position to strengthen and extend the mandate of the committee to cover the periods starting from the return of democracy in in 1999, as ordered by the court.”

The audit committee established last month by Buhari is to undertake an audit of all recovery accounts established by government agencies. The committee has four weeks to submit its report.

But in a letter dated 9 December 2017 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization urged Buhari to “strengthen the capacity of the committee, and to extend the four weeks deadline within which it is expected to submit its report to at least 6 months so that the committee can effectively document the details of information ordered by Justice M.B. Idris.”

According to the organization, “The rule of law might prove to be fragile if its force depends upon the sum of the governmental calculations of costs and benefits made. The kind of commitment needed to nourish the rule of law is a strong political and ethical commitment to obey all judgments of courts in full, and not in part.”

The letter read in part: “Extending the mandates of the committee to cover periods starting from the return of democracy in 1999 could have a profound effect on combating the culture of impunity that prevails wherever corrupt individuals feel that the risk of punishment is low, and that they would be allowed to keep their ill-gotten wealth.”

“Partial implementation of the judgment by Justice Idris would continue to encourage impunity for grand corruption. And the effects of corruption on the rule of law are not only harmful, but destructive to the entire criminal justice system, as well as erode public trust in law and order. We believe that the more transparent and democratic is a society, the more resilient it would be against corruption. And the more corruption is tamed, and recovered stolen assets properly spent on developmental projects, the more Nigeria can thrive among the comity of nations.”

“Detailed terms of reference for the committee have not yet been published. It is also unclear the periods of time covered by the committee’s mandate. These lacunas if not urgently addressed could undermine the effectiveness of the committee, and the integrity and credibility of its work.”

“While we welcome the inauguration of the committee as a partial compliance with the judgment by Justice Idris, we urge your government to fully comply with the terms of the judgment by extending the mandate of the committee to cover the periods starting from the return of democracy in 1999, as well as accessing and collecting information on recovered assets as ordered by the court.”

Read Also:

  • Military Floods Kwara Forests with Troops, Equipment to Crush Kidnappers
  • Gov Radda Hails Troops’ Gallantry, Seeks for New Army Unit in Katsina
  • Tijani, Sanwo-Olu, Bella Disu, Others to Headline 10th Nigeria Digital PR Summit

“We would again like to draw your attention to the judgment delivered in March 2016 by Justice Idris following a Freedom of Information suit no: FHC/IKJ/CS/248/2011 brought by SERAP. The judgment directed your government to provide SERAP with up to date information on recovered stolen funds since the return of civilian rule in 1999, including: Detailed information on the total amount of recovered stolen public assets that have so far been recovered by Nigeria.”

“The details ordered by the court to be disclosed include: information on the total amount of recovered stolen public assets by each government; the amount of recovered stolen public assets spent by each government as well as the objects of such spending and the projects on which such funds were spent.”

“The court noted that successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 “breached the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability for failing to disclose details about the spending of recovered stolen public funds,” and ordered your government to “ensure accountability for all recovered stolen assets under the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan account fully for all recovered loot.”

SERAP therefore urged Buhari to:

  1. Renew and strengthen the mandate of the audit committee to cover the periods starting from the return of democracy in 1999, as ordered by Justice Idris, and to extend the four weeks deadline within which the committee is to submit its report to at least 6 months;
  2. Develop detailed terms of reference for the committee, including the power to access files and interview all persons of interest to the committee from all governments since the return of democracy in 1999;
  3. Ensure the publication of the report of the committee, and if the report establishes any relevant admissible evidence that some of the recovered assets have been re-stolen, to refer such cases to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for further investigation and prosecution;
  4. Work with the leadership of the National Assembly to promote and encourage the urgent passage of the Proceeds of Crimes Bill, to ensure sustainability and transparency in the management of assets;
  5. Encourage and facilitate civil society participation in the work of the audit committee

 

 

SIGNED

Adetokunbo Mumuni

SERAP executive director

10/12/2017

Lagos, Nigeria

Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

Twitter: @SERAPNigeria

Website: www.serap-nigeria.org

Telephone: +2348160537202

 

 

 

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Mohammadu Buhari
  • SERAP
Previous articleNigerian Army Sustains Human Right Office- General Buratai
Next article#BounceCorruption Hackathons Competition
Adetokunbo Mumuni
Adetokunbo Mumuni
http://www.PRNigeria.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

NAHCON

Renewed Hope in Hajj Operations: NAHCON Records Milestone Achievements Under Tinubu Administration

Mohammed Idris Malagi, Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation

FG Reaffirms Non-Interference in ICPC, EFCC Operations

ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

ASUU

Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences Kano Make-Up Artist for Naira Abuse

PRNigeria logo fearured image

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

EFCC, CCC and the Battle Against Corruption in Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman

EFCC’s Anti-Corruption War: Between Media Trial and Intelligence-Driven Operations

Olayiwola Oguntade

Court Sentences Ex JAMB Staff for N10m Fraud in Ibadan

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • Military Floods Kwara Forests with Troops, Equipment to Crush Kidnappers
  • Gov Radda Hails Troops’ Gallantry, Seeks for New Army Unit in Katsina
  • Tijani, Sanwo-Olu, Bella Disu, Others to Headline 10th Nigeria Digital PR Summit
  • Third Estate Warns Against Spreading Insecurity in Kwara, Calls for United Action and Prayer
  • Anambra Police Deploy 70 Fresh Constables to Boost Security
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Military Floods Kwara Forests with Troops, Equipment to Crush KidnappersGov Radda Hails Troops’ Gallantry, Seeks for New Army Unit in KatsinaTijani, Sanwo-Olu, Bella Disu, Others to Headline 10th Nigeria Digital PR SummitThird Estate Warns Against Spreading Insecurity in Kwara, Calls for United Action and PrayerAnambra Police Deploy 70 Fresh Constables to Boost SecurityICPC to Prosecute Self-Acclaimed Kano Journalist for Alleged ₦14 Million FraudEx-Gov Yahaya Bello' s Fund Withdrawals Did Not Breach Banking Regulations, EFCC Witness Tells FCT CourtAtiku Criticises DSS, Demands Probe of Tinubu Cabinet Following Minister's ResignationTinubu: Shuttle Diplomacy and the Power of Showing UpMAAUN Public Health Students Host Seminar to Combat Drug Abuse and Preventable DiseasesFutureMap Graduates Over 1,000 Students from STEAM Camp in JigawaFinally, Tinubu's Embattled Minister Resigns Amid Certificate ScandalTinubu Confers National Honour on Outgoing INEC Chairman Mahmood YakubuArmy Partners Media to Tackle Fake News, Boost National SecurityBadaru Hails NAF’s Vision, Commissions New Headquarters Annex in Abuja
X whatsapp