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.
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