SERAP wants ICPC to probe missing N500 billion SURE-P funds..."Arrest culprits now"

                                                               Ekpo Nta, ICPC Boss           Christopher Kolade, SURE-P  Boss                                      

The question on the lips of many frustrated, hungry and despondent Nigerians is: when will corruption end in this country? They also want to know when the government of the day will start arresting, prosecuting and jailing offenders.

And to this end, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to urgently probe corruption allegations trailing the N500bn shortfall in the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) from January 2012 to September 2013.

In a petition signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP also asked the ICPC to prosecute those behind the alleged fraud.

SERAP said the failure to account for the shortfall of about N500bn out of the over N800bn which ought to have accrued for the SURE-P projects was a flagrant denial of the social and economic rights of millions of Nigerians.

“The inability of government officials to account for huge amount of resources mapped out for the improvement of the country is a serious impediment and setback to the goals of development for which the SURE-P funds have been set aside to achieve in the first place.

“The denial of the rights of millions of Nigerians has contributed hugely to extreme poverty and civil strife,” SERAP added.

Also, it noted that the mismanagement of public funds in the country had been compounded by a failure to investigate and prosecute top public officials suspected to be involved in corruption.

According to SERAP, allegations of corruption trailing the missing funds “constitutes a serious breach of the ICPC Act and the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a signatory to state party.”

It therefore asked the ICPC to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the matter and make public its findings.

“Among others, the investigation should seek to obtain the following information – What happened to the shortfall of over N500bn?

“How much so far has been remitted to the SURE-P funds?

“What amount remains to be remitted to the SURE-P funds? What is the extent of complicity and responsibility of Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in the remittance of the SURE-P funds?

“How much funds has been utilised by the SURE-P?,” SERAP said.

It also asked the anti-graft agency to bring to justice all those involved in the corruption in the petroleum sector.