In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the ownership of the N13bn
($43.4m, N23m and £27,000) found by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) at the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu
Buhari to “urgently address country on the matter so as to clarify the
issue, and resolve lingering doubts among Nigerians regarding the real
owner(s) of the cash.”
The organization also called on the president to “ensure legal backing for
his government’s whistle-blowing policy by vigorously pursuing the passing
by the National Assembly of the Whistle-blower Bills.”
Both Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the National Intelligence
Agency last week reportedly claimed ownership of the cash, casting doubts
on the ‘real claimants.’
In a statement today by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the
organization said that, “The government’s increasing reliance on
whistle-blowers’ tips to fight corruption has to be backed by some level
of transparency and accountability in the real identities of those
claiming recovered cash. Clearing the doubts surrounding the real
identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul would demonstrate that the
president values transparency over secrecy, provide further encouragement
to blow the whistle on governmental corruption, and enhance the public
right to know.”
According to the organization, “Democracy abhors secrecy, and for
Nigerians to be able to hold elected leaders accountable, they must have
access to information such as on the real identities of those behind the
Ikoyi cash haul. This transparency is fundamental to the operation of the
government’s whistle-blower policy, and inextricably rooted in the notions
of good governance and the rule of law under the 1999 Nigerian
constitution (as amended).”
The statement read in part: “No good comes from secrecy in governance, as
officials who have become accustomed to operating without accountability
are loath to relinquish the power that comes from conducting their
business without public scrutiny. When public authorities resist efforts
to shine a light on their activities, it gives the impression that there
is something to hide. It’s counter-productive to overstate national
security based secrecy needs, as secrecy encourages poorly informed and
under-vetted decision-making.”
“Public scrutiny is a prerequisite for changing harmful, entrenched
practices. Rather than operating the whistle-blowers policy as hidden,
mysterious mechanism at the far edge of democracy, this government should
make the operation of policy more transparent and accessible to the
public. Both transparency and accountability are necessary to uphold the
rights of victims of corruption and ensure that suspected perpetrators are
held to account. The ‘sky will not fall’ if the true identities of those
behind the Ikoyi cash haul are revealed.”
“It’s clear that as the EFCC continues to uncover more suspected looted or
ill-gotten cash, those blowing the whistle will need greater level of
protection. But without outlawing retaliation and attacks against
whistle-blowers, and taking a firm stance on protecting them, the
incentive of bounty rewards would be negated, as potential whistle-blowers
may be discouraged from performing invaluable public interest service.”
“It shouldn’t be the case that the government knows the risks of
whistle-blowing and yet fails to provide the needed legal protection
against retaliation and attacks, regardless of whether whistle-blowers are
entitled to bounties.”
“The policy of giving whistle-blowers some percentage of recovered loot
would seem to be a game changer in the fight against corruption but this
government now has to squarely address the significant risks that those
who blow the whistle face by urgently working with the National Assembly
to ensure the necessary legal backing that would ensure protection against
reprisals and attacks.”
“The government should ensure that the National Assembly expedites the
process of passing the Whistle-Blower Bill, as ensuring that the bill is
passed without further delay would recognize the necessity of
whistleblowers and the value they add to the anti-corruption fight by
reporting otherwise unknown corruption-related information. It would also
ensure that whistle-blowers are fully protected from any retaliation and
attacks they may experience, and that the government fully appreciates the
information they provide.”
“Continuing delay in the passing of the Whistle-Blower Bill would have a
chilling effect on potential whistleblowers and hinder the public’s
ability to learn about the kind of cash haul found in Ikoyi and elsewhere
across the country. It’s also contrary to Article 33 of the UN Convention
on Corruption, which Nigeria has ratified. The convention obligates the
government to put in place appropriate measures to provide protection
against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith
and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts
concerning offences established in accordance with the convention.”