The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has written to President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua requesting him to “urgently instruct the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and the Auditor General's Office (AGO) to begin a transparent auditing of the spending of the recovered stolen public funds since the return of civil rule in 1999, and to publish widely the outcome of such auditing, including on a dedicated website.”
In an open letter to the President dated 11 June 2009, and signed by SERAP’s Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization stated that, “Despite your government’s oft-expressed commitment to the anti-corruption fight in the country, questions remain as to the government’s lack of transparency and openness in the spending of recovered stolen public funds, estimated at N600 billion, by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).”
According to the organization, “Our investigation reveals strong and credible evidence to suggest that most of the recovered funds may have been re-stolen, misused or mismanaged. However, it should be noted that the recovered N600 billion is only a paltry of over $400 billion, which the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes said has been stolen by high level Nigerian public officials.”
“The government’s lack of transparency, accountability and full disclosure in the spending of recovered loot is aptly illustrated by the secrecy surrounding the spending of recovered funds from the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha (about $1.9 billion returned); the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun (about N10 billion returned); and the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (about $1.9 million returned),” the organization added.
The organization also said that “This situation is unacceptable as it is fuelling a culture of official corruption and impunity of perpetrators in the country. High level official corruption is bleeding Nigeria to death and the cost is borne by the poor. Recovered stolen public funds have apparently not been properly spent to achieve sustainable development for Nigeria, throwing millions of Nigerians deeper into poverty.”
“We are seriously concerned that there is little or no public information on the spending of recovered stolen public funds, contrary to Nigeria’s international anti-corruption commitments, including under the UN Convention against Corruption and the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption,” the organization further stated.
The organization also stated that the government is “obligated to promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property, including recovered loot. Nigeria is also obligated to ensure the right of access to any information that may be required to assist in the fight against corruption. Without proper auditing of the spending of recovered stolen public funds, there will be no end to the vicious circle of high level official corruption and impunity of perpetrators in the country.”
The organization therefore asked President Yar’Adua to use his position and good offices to:
1. Urgently instruct the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and the Auditor General's Office (AGO) to begin a transparent auditing of the spending of the recovered stolen public funds, since the return of civil rule in 1999; and to publish widely the outcome of such auditing, including on a dedicated website. The auditing should find out how much of stolen public funds have so far been recovered, and the use to which the funds recovered have been put. Where recovered funds are lodged in bank accounts, the auditing should discover how much interests have accrued to such funds
2. Establish a presidential advisory and monitoring team to track the spending of recovered stolen funds, and to regularly publish information on the purposes for which the funds are used. This team should work closely with and share information and intelligence with anti-corruption agencies such as the ICPC and EFCC
3. Establish a trust fund from the recovered stolen funds, and use such funds to address urgent developmental needs of the victims of corruption in Nigeria, including to provide access to reliable and uninterrupted electricity services; healthcare, and safe drinking water
4. Ensure that the government fully comply with the provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption, especially the Convention’s provisions on asset recovery
5. Demonstrate the required political will to fight corruption in a meaningful and effective way.
“However, if the above suggested measures are not fully implemented within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, the Registered Trustees of SERAP will take all appropriate legal actions nationally and internationally to compel your government to comply with Nigeria’s voluntary international anti-corruption commitments. SERAP will also work vigorously to mobilise Nigerians through online campaign tools such as Facebook, You Tube, MySpace, and other for a to ensure that sufficient pressure is mounted on the government to implement the recommendations”, the organization added.
Signed
Adetokunbo Mumuni
Executive Director
11/6/09
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