The World Bank Access to Information Committee has asked for more time to
reach a decision on the appeal lodged with it by Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project, (SERAP) regarding spending of recovered stolen
funds by the late General Sani Abacha.
The letter addressed to Olukayode Majekodunmi SERAP deputy director and
received yesterday by the organization reads in part: “In response to your
appeal under Case Number AI3982-A, this is to inform you that your appeal
remains under consideration by the Access to Information Committee in
accordance with the World Bank’s Access to Information Policy.”
“The Access to Information Committee makes its best efforts to reach a
decision on appeals within 45 working days of receiving an appeal. In this
case, the Access to Information Committee needs additional time to reach a
decision. We appreciate your patience while the Access to Information
Committee considers your appeal.”
It would be recalled that SERAP in the appeal dated 5 February 2016 said
that it considered the decision not to reveal important portions of the
information requested on how Abacha loot was spent “a serious violation of
the AI Policy, as it amounts to improper or unreasonable restriction of
access to information.”
The organisation said, “Following receipt of several documents from the
World Bank totalling over 700 pages on the Abacha loot, SERAP commenced
independent investigations and verification of some of the information
supplied with appropriate agencies and institutions of government.”
The appeal reads in part: “SERAP is concerned that the World Bank failed
and/or neglected to provide several portions of the information requested
on the spending of recovered Abacha loot managed by the Bank.”
“SERAP notes that one of the guiding principles of the Policy on Access to
Information (AI Policy) is recognizing the right to an appeals process
when a request for information in the World Bank’s possession is
improperly or unreasonably denied.”
“SERAP argues that there is a strong public interest case here to override
the corporate administrative matters, deliberative information or
financial information exceptions of the AI Policy if the information being
requested falls under one of these exceptions.”
“SERAP believes that it is not harmful for the Bank to disclose specific
details of the information requested. SERAP also notes that the sole
remedy available to those who prevail in the appeals process is to receive
the information requested.”
SERAP therefore requested the Access to Information (AI) Appeals Board to
exercise its prerogative and allow disclosure of the following specific
information and any feedback from the World Bank Evaluation Team on the
issues below:
1. Evidence and list of the 23 projects allegedly completed with
recovered Abacha loot, and whether the 26 projects where actually
completed; and what became of the 2 abandoned projects.
2. Evidence and location of the 8 health centers built with recovered
Abacha loot reviewed by the World Bank
3. Evidence and location of the 18 power projects confirmed by the
World Bank
4. How the $50mn Abacha loot received before 2005 kept in the special
account was spent
5. Evidence and location of schools which benefited from the Universal
Basic Education (UBE) program in the amount of NGN24.25bn
6. Evidence and location of the 13 road projects completed with the
recovered Abacha loot, including the names of the 3 of the largest road
and bridge projects in each geo-political zone