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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asked Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman of the Commission for Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offenses (ICPC), and Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, Acting Chairman of the Commission Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), to urge them to urgently invite Senators Godswill Akpabio and Isa Misau to further interrogation and interrogation regarding the alleged misuse of projects in constituencies. "
The organization said: "If the ICPC and EFCC consider the equipment recovered from the hospital and the six tractors allegedly diverted for the personal use of senators, would constitute sufficient and sufficient relevant evidence, we urge you to take immediate action against former senators. "
The CPIC had said last week that it had recovered from the premises and farmland that would belong to Senators of the equipment intended for constituency projects in some local government areas of Akwa Ibom States. and Bauchi.
In a petition dated 2 August 2019 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: "Invite the suspects to be interrogated and interrogated again, and to allow them to face prosecution, if any, would show that no one is superior to the law. This would be fully consistent with the exercise of your anti-corruption mandates, as well as the spirit and the letter of the United Nations Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is committed. a State Party. "
SERAP expressed: "its concern that these cases illustrate the growing allegations of mbadive corruption in constituency projects and that it is important not only to monitor projects, but also to investigate thoroughly and effectively on reported corruption cases and promptly bring alleged perpetrators to justice. "
According to the organization, "When members of the National Assembly divert constituency projects for their personal use, their essence is defeated and the integrity of the mechanism compromised."
The petition, copied to Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, stated, inter alia: "Corruption in the provision of public services such as health care affects and distorts the provision of services and the right to the best state of health possible. As CPIC recoveries have shown, cases of corruption in constituency projects result in under-provision, divert public resources, or simply limit access to or make unavailable for public services. "
"SERAP notes that Article 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) states that" the State shall abolish all practices of corruption and abuse of power " . Similarly, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a State Party, calls on the authorities to ensure effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and sanctions in the event of corruption. "
"Allegations of misappropriation of constituency projects by government officials have weakened public confidence in the effectiveness of the mechanism as it is currently being put in place to provide essential public services to the poorest people. Unresolved allegations of corruption in constituency projects would significantly contribute to the impunity of the great corruption in Nigeria and pose a serious threat to the probity of public life, the rule of law and the rule of law. respect for human rights. "
"Allegations of corruption in constituency projects purporting to be implemented for the common good and not for the personal gains of legislators would ultimately undermine the principles of representative and accountable government acting in the public interest. , as well as for equality and fairness. "
"Corruption in the health sector or provision of support to farmers unfairly punishes the poor and depresses the standard of living and opportunities for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations."
"Inviting the suspects to be interrogated and questioned again, and prosecuting them if the recoveries by the ICCP indicate relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, would show the willingness of your agencies to exercise your authorities and deter against violations of the law Nigerian. against corruption and international standards. "
"SERAP urges the ICCP and EFCC to work together to continue to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of constituency projects and to signal the disgrace of those suspected of being involved if Nigeria does not must not continue to witness the harmful allegations of misappropriation and other forms of corruption in the implementation of constituency projects. "
"The ICPC reported having recovered hospital equipment intended for the constituency project on the premises of the Mma Obot Foundation, which would belong to Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom. Among the covers are a dialysis machine, an ECG monitor, an oxygen regulator, anesthesia machines, generators and other hospital equipment intended for a field hospital in Ukana, in the Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State. "
"The ICPC also recovered six tractors on a farm belonging to Isa Hamman Misau, a former senator who represented the Bauchi center. The tractors were destined for farmers in six regions of the central senatorial district of Bauchi. Items were retrieved during CPIC's ongoing monitoring of constituency projects across the country. "
"The tractors were part of the N430m contract for the supply of pumping machines and other agricultural machinery to farmers in the senatorial district, which was awarded in 2015 by the federal government as part of senators' constituency projects across the country. . The sum of 76.6 million naira would have been paid for the tractors in December 2015, which were delivered in March 2016. "
Kolawole Oluwadare
Deputy Director of SERAP
08/04/2019
Lagos, Nigeria
email: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
Phone: +2348160537202
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