Ibrahim Mustafa Magu
Chairman
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
Plot 1017 & 1018 Coree Bay Crescent,
Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent
Wuse II, Abuja
27 December 2016
Dear Sir,
Re: Request to investigate allegation of missing N500 million Safe School funds for Chibok girls commissioned by former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) is writing to request you to urgently begin a thorough, transparent and effective investigation into allegation that N500 million Safe School funds for Chibok girls, commissioned by former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to rebuild the Government Girls School in Chibok, is missing and cannot be accounted for.
We also urge you to invite for questioning and name and shame anyone suspected to be involved in the alleged diversion, including the contractors allegedly handling the project.
SERAP is a human rights non-governmental organization whose mandate include to promote and seek respect for socio-economic rights of Nigerians, and to promote transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors through human rights. On the recommendation of the DFID, SERAP was nominated for the UN civil society award in 2008. SERAP was also nominated for the Ford Foundation Jubilee Transparency Award for 2011. SERAP received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award for 2014. SERAP is also a key member of UNCAC Coalition, which is a global anti-corruption network of over 310 civil society organizations (CSOs) in over 100 countries.
This request is based on allegations by Governor Kashim Shettima that N500 million set aside by the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is missing and cannot be accounted for. The funds were released for rebuilding of the Government Girls School in Chibok under the Safe School Initiative programme, which was commissioned former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
SERAP is seriously concerned that the school has remained in a state of disrepair since the abduction of the girls, and students have remained at home. SERAP is concerned that the alleged diversion of N500m meant for reconstruction of Government Girls School in Chibok has directly violated the right to education of girls, as guaranteed under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. The diversion has also undermined the obligation of the government to take step to the maximum of its available resources to achieve the right to education.
The allegation that N500m has been lost to corruption has resulted in denying the girls access to education, and shows the failure of the former President Goodluck Jonathan government to live up to Nigeria’s commitments under the global Safe School Declaration.
SERAP believes that the diversion of the funds will expose the school to attacks in the future. This is a fundamental breach of the country’s obligations including guarantees of non-repetition, which contribute to prevention and deterrence of future attacks.
The alleged diversion also shows a serious breach of anticorruption legislation including the EFCC Act, and Nigeria’s international obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption both of which the country has ratified.
SERAP therefore urges you to use your leadership position and exercise your authority to:
Promptly, thoroughly, effectively, and transparently investigate these damaging allegations, and make public the outcome of your investigation.
Ensure that those suspected of involvement in the diversion of the funds are swiftly brought to justice, and all proceeds of corruption are recovered and returned back to the public treasury
Work with Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to set up a mechanism to monitor government’s spending of the safe school funds in order to ensure that the funds are spent exactly to prevent and deter future attacks, and to allow the girls to go back to school as soon as possible
Yours sincerely,
Timothy Adewale
Senior Staff Attorney