The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged disappearance of a staggering ₦57 billion of public funds which SERAP said was “missing, diverted or stolen” in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.
In a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday, SERAP asked the President to “direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies” to probe the allegations.
The organisation premised its call on the 2021 audited report released last week by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
“The allegations amount to stealing from the poor,” SERAP submitted. “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.
“The allegations also suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anti-corruption legislation, and international anti-corruption obligations.”
The organisation added everything and demanded that anyone found guilty should be punished according to extant laws, and “any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
SERAP regretted that the biggest casualty of the misdemeanor at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations are poor Nigerians who are made poorer and have continued to pay the price for the mindless looting not only in the Humanitarian Ministry but also in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” SERAP maintained.
“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, [the ministry] in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion [N54,630,000,000.00] meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.
“The money was ‘not directly paid to the beneficiaries.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.”
