SERAP drags Buhari, others to court over alleged missing ₦106bn in 149 MDAs

A Nigerian non-profit organization promoting transparency and accountability in the use of the nation’s natural resources – the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari “over his failure to probe allegations that N106bn of public funds are missing from 149 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, and the recovery of any missing public funds”.

SERAP’s  suit followed allegations by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in his 2018 annual audited report that over ₦105 billion of public funds are missing, misappropriated, or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs.

Also, joined in the suit were the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; Abubakar Malami and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/903/2021 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP asked the court to “direct and compel President Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing N106bn of public funds, ensure prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible and the full recovery of any missing public money”.

The group further noted  that recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s constitutional and international obligations, and reduce the growing level of public debts.

The statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare read, “directing and compelling President Buhari to ensure the investigation and prosecution of the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General would be entirely consistent with the government’s own commitment to fight corruption, improve the integrity of MDAs, and serve the public interest.

“The alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the indicted MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing funds could have helped the government to invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these goods and services.”

Also, the group wants the court to compel the president “to publish full details of the yearly budgets of all MDAs, and issue regular updates that detail their expenditures, including by making any such information easily accessible in a form that can be understood by the public”.

However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

admin

Recent Posts

Oyo Rep, Oseni Pays APC Secretariat Staff Salaries, Donates N10m to Boost Party Operations

House of Representatives member and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency…

1 day ago

Rep Oseni Rallies Support for Ikogosi Development Projects, Calls for Resilience, Unity

The Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and representative…

4 days ago

Bad Roads: ‘Focus on Message, Not Messenger’ – Nigerians Tell Works Minister, Umahi

The Nigerian Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ignited widespread public reaction following his response…

1 week ago

Oseni Salutes Senator Folarin’s Decades of Service at 61

  Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House…

1 week ago

Oseni Donates N10m to Support Ibadan’s Mogaji Ile Eke Project

The Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni has made…

2 weeks ago

Lead City Varsity Hosts Conference on Leadership, Personality Development

Dr. Ayobami Owolabi, President of the Institute of Personality Development & Customer Relationship Management (IPDCRM),…

2 weeks ago