The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to commence investigations into the “over N3 billion of public funds allegedly missing, mismanaged or diverted from the Federal Ministry of Finance.”
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, while imploring President Buhari to “use his good offices to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN,” to commence proceedings.
The organization said the allegations are documented in the 2018 and 2019 annual audited reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered.”
“As trustee of public funds, the Ministry of Finance ought to ensure strict compliance with transparency and accountability rules and regulations.”
SERAP further stated that the Ministry has “a sacred duty to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of the country’s resources. This implies providing strong leadership in the efforts to curb public sector corruption.
“This leadership is important for the Ministry to enjoy the public trust and confidence essential for its effectiveness and impact.
“The allegations that N3,143,718,976.47 of public funds are missing will also clearly amount to a fundamental breach of national anticorruption laws and the country’s international anticorruption obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Investigating and prosecuting the allegations, and recovering any missing public funds would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators. It will also serve the public interest
