Buhari Must Investigate Alleged Missing N3.1bn In Ministry Of Finance-SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good offices to direct the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that over N3 billion of public funds are missing, mismanaged or diverted from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The organisation said the allegations are documented in the 2018 and 2019 audited reports by the Auditor General of the Federation.

SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered.”

In a letter dated December 24, 2021, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation noted that the reports suggest a grave violation of public trust.

As trustee of public funds, the body said, the Ministry of Finance ought to ensure strict compliance with transparency and accountability rules and regulations.

According to SERAP, as a key agency of government, the ministry has a sacred duty to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of the country’s resources. This implies providing strong leadership in efforts to curb public sector corruption.

It said: “This leadership is important for the ministry to enjoy the public trust and confidence essential for its effectiveness and impact.

“The allegations that N3,143,718,976.47 of public funds are missing will also clearly amount to a fundamental breach of national anti-corruption laws and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations including under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Nigeria is a state party.”

In the letter copied to Malami; Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed; and chairmen of Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, the organisation said investigating and prosecuting the allegation, and recovering any missing public funds would improve the chances of success of government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators. It will also serve the public interest.