SERAP Sues Buhari Over Missing N881bn In 367 MDAs

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has sued President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) for failing to investigate charges that over $880 billion in public monies had gone missing from 367 ministries, divisions, and organizations.

SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing N881 billion in public funds and to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, as well as the full recovery of any missing, mismanaged, or diverted public funds” in a suit filed last week in the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The complaint follows claims made in part 2 of the 2018 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation that $880,894,733,084.811 was spent by 367 MDAs without any appropriation, according to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

According to SERAP, “It is in the interest of justice to grant this application, as it would improve respect for the rights of Nigerians, and improve their access to essential public goods and services, which ought to be provided by the indicted MDAs.

“President Buhari has a constitutional duty to ensure the investigation and prosecution of allegations of corruption, as well as recovery of any missing public funds. Section 15[5] of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended], requires the Buhari administration to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

SERAP added that the missing funds have hindered the ability of the MDAs to meet the needs of the citizens.

It noted, “The alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the indicted MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing funds could have helped the government to invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these goods and services.”

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, are also named as Respondents in the complaint.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer Oluwadare read in part: “The failure to investigate the allegations of grand corruption contained in part 2 of the 2018 annual audited report constitutes a grave violation of the duty placed on the Nigerian government to take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.”

“Mandamus is a high prerogative writ which lies to secure the performance of public duty. It gives a command that a duty of a public nature which normally, though not necessarily is imposed by statute but is neglected or refused to be done after due demand, be done.

“If there is a discretion to perform the duty, the court has the power to examine whether the discretion to refuse to act has been properly exercised.”

It noted that the recovery of the missing funds would reduce pressure on the government to borrow money to fund the budget.

“Recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s constitutional and international obligations, and reduce the growing level of public debts.

“These damning revelations suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution of 1999, and international human rights and anti-corruption standards. Spending public funds without appropriation will create opportunities for corruption.

“Transparent and accountable public financial management is a key pillar of good governance, and of vital importance to provide public goods and services to citizens, as well as to create and maintain fair and sustainable economic and social conditions in the country,” the statement read.

However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.