Crime & Court
SERAP to Buhari: Probe alleged misuse of security votes by governors
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly investigate allegations of systemic mismanagement of security votes by state governors since 1999.”
“Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any mismanaged public funds should be fully recovered”, SERAP said.
Buhari had in his 2022 New Year Message raised concerns about “the persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country,” and promised to “remain resolute in our commitments” to give “utmost attention to the problem.”
Contained in a letter dated 1 January 2022, signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said: “The most satisfactory and effective way to demonstrate the oft-repeated commitments to address the insecurity in the country is to promptly and thoroughly probe persistent allegations of corruption in the spending of security votes by state governors.
“Probing the spending of security votes and ensuring accountability for any cases of corruption would improve the ability of your government to deliver on the promises to ensure the security of Nigerians, and to keep them safe.
The letter, further read in part, “Ending impunity for allegations of corruption in the spending of security votes and recovering any mismanaged public funds are matters of public interest.
“As revealed by a recent report by Transparency International (TI), most of the funds appropriated as security votes are spent on political activities, mismanaged or simply stolen. It is estimated that security votes add up to over N241.2 billion every year.
“On top of appropriated security votes, state governments also receive millions of dollars yearly as international security assistance.
“Longstanding allegations of corruption and mismanagement of security votes have hugely contributed to the growing insecurity in the country, and the failure of authorities to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of their own people.
Its continued, “Pervasive tendency by public officers to regard or treat security votes given to them for security of the state as their personal entitlement or funds is antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and international standards. Security votes should be used for improving the security situation in the states or returned to the public treasury.
“Successive governments have failed to effectively discharge their primary and constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of the Nigerian people. This is patently contrary to Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that: ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“Against the background of well-documented cases of abduction, killings and ongoing security challenges in several parts of the country, the time has come to end the culture of impunity for allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds meant to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians.
“Similarly, your government’s responsibility to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the Nigerian people is interlinked with the responsibility under Section 15(5) of the Constitution to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office.’ This imposes a fundamental obligation to ensure accountability for the spending of security votes by state governors.
“While sitting state governors may enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution, they do not enjoy immunity from investigation. Any allegations of mismanagement of security votes against sitting governors can and should be investigated pending the time they leave office and lose immunity. The findings of such investigation can also be the basis for initiating impeachment proceedings against any indicted governor.
“SERAP urges you to instruct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly track and monitor spending of security votes by the 36 state governors.
“SERAP notes that in your 2022 New Year Message to Nigerians, you raised concerns about ‘the persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country,’ and the effects on the socio-economic conditions of millions of people, as well as promised to ‘remain resolute in our commitments’ to give ‘utmost attention’ to the problem, and to address ‘human security at the grassroots.
“SERAP also notes your expressed commitment to give ‘the utmost priority to fighting corruption and other related offenses’ in any part of the country.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest”, the letter concluded.
The letter was also copied to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of cocaine ingeniously concealed within prayer beads and locally made shoes, foiling an attempt to traffic the illicit substance.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, revealing that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
Babafemi, who shared images of the seized contraband on X (formerly Twitter), condemned the act, especially in the holy month when religious devotion takes precedence.
“In this holy month, when people are consecrating themselves and making supplications to their God, some persons were preoccupied with concealing cocaine in prayer beads and locally made shoes to desecrate the precincts of the holy land in the holy month,” he stated.
He further noted that vigilant NDLEA operatives intercepted the illicit shipment, preventing the traffickers from executing their plan.
The anti-narcotics agency has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, especially methods that exploit religious items and sacred periods to evade detection.
As investigations continue, the NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to curbing drug-related crimes and ensuring that traffickers face the full weight of the law.
Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 34-year-old church member in connection with the kidnapping of two Catholic priests.
The Command’s spokesman, Superintendent of Police (SP) Suleiman Yahaya-Nguroje, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday. He revealed that the victims—Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman of the Catholic Diocese of Yola and Mathew David Dusam of the Jalingo Diocese—were rescued unharmed after police operatives stormed a criminal hideout.
According to Yahaya-Nguroje, the suspect was apprehended in Gweda Mallam village, a border community between Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas of Adamawa State. He was found with a locally fabricated gun, a mobile phone, and a SIM card. The kidnapped priests were discovered tied up at the location.
He noted that the operation was carried out following a tip-off, prompting officers to embark on a rescue mission across criminal hideouts in the state. The spokesman emphasized that no ransom was paid to secure the priests’ release.
“The success of this operation is a result of the renewed action plan introduced by the Commissioner of Police, CP Morris Dankwbo, which has strengthened efforts in tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state,” Yahaya-Nguroje stated.
Following their rescue, the two priests were taken to a medical facility for treatment, while the suspect remains in police custody for further investigations and prosecution.
Expressing gratitude for the support received from the state government, security agencies, and members of the public, CP Dankwbo urged residents to remain vigilant and continue assisting law enforcement agencies in combating crime.
The Adamawa State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents, calling for sustained collaboration in the fight against criminal elements.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to politicians embezzling local government funds, vowing that they will not be spared by the anti-graft agency.
Olukoyede made this declaration on Wednesday while addressing activists, traditional rulers, and local government officials at the Gombe State Local Government Summit in the North-East state.
His remarks come on the heels of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that granted full financial autonomy to local governments, ensuring direct allocation of funds to the third tier of government. He urged the 774 local government chairmen across Nigeria to utilize the increased financial inflow for strategic developmental projects that will benefit their communities.
“Even though you may have financial autonomy, you must also remember that you don’t have constitutional immunity,” Olukoyede stated. “The application of your resources will be strictly monitored, not only by anti-corruption agencies but also by the state government. It is in the interest of the state government to ensure that local government funds are responsibly and judiciously utilized for developmental projects.”
The EFCC chairman emphasized the need for local government officials to embrace transparency and accountability, noting that effective governance at the grassroots level depends on adherence to financial regulations and public finance management principles.
He further called for the proper functioning of the legislative arm of local governments, lamenting that many council lawmakers fail to carry out their duties. “We have observed that in several areas, the legislative units of the local governments neither sit nor work as required,” he said.
Olukoyede stressed that without a proper system of checks and balances, local government chairmen would continue to act as sole administrators, a situation he described as detrimental to due process and accountability.
“You are not sole administrators; you are local government chairmen,” he reminded them. “To build an accountable system at the local level, we must start with ensuring that council leaders are in tune with laws governing public finance and that they comply fully.”
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