Socio-Economic Rights and AccountabilityProject (SERAP) has sent an urgent
appeal to Mallam Adamu Adamu Minister of Education requesting him to
“orderan immediate, unconditional and full reinstatement of all the
twenty-three SeniorStaff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)
sacked by the FederalUniversity of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) simply
because theyreported cases of corruption on campus to the Economic and
Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC).” SERAP said that unless Mr Adama is
able to “prevailon the University Council to recall the victimised 23
staff members withinseven days after the receipt and/or publication of
this letter, ourorganization will be compelled to pursue appropriate legal
action to challenge theseunjust acts against whistle-blowers.” In the
letter dated 6 December 2016 andsigned by SERAP executive director
Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization saidthat, “SERAP has been fully briefed
by the twenty-three SSANU members ofstaff of the Federal University of
Agriculture Abeokuta who were sacked whistle-blowersbecause of their
public interest disclosures on alleged corruption and unlawfulenrichment
of the Vice Chancellor and Pro Chancellor.” According to the
organization,“Allegations of corruption, unlawful enrichment and the
misuse of power or anyposition of authority by university personnel for
personal gain threaten andharm the public interest. SERAP is seriously
concerned about the allegedsystemic and widespread nature of the crimes in
an ivory tower which issupposed to be bedrock of learning and good
culture.” The letter reads in part: “Weare seriously concerned that these
dismissed SSANU staff members were not beingappropriately treated or
protected by the University authorities or Council toremedy the exposed
threats or harm to them. No whistle-blower should ever be penalisedsimply
for making a public interest disclosure.” “SERAP strongly believesthat
every individual should feel safe to freely raise public interestconcerns,
just as the SSANU staff members have done in disclosing informationon
alleged corruption, fraud and unlawful enrichment in the University
ofAgriculture Abeokuta. Unless 23 staff members are granted the
appropriateprotection deserving of whistle-blowers and unconditionally
reinstated, asignificant opportunity to protect the University and public
interest would bemissed.”
“By terminating theappointment of these staff members, SERAP believes that
the University Councilhas acted improperly or attempted to cover up the
alleged corruption and fraudrather than promptly addressing it by
referring the allegations to appropriateanticorruption agencies and
institutions such as the Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission (EFCC)
and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other RelatedOffences Commission
(ICPC).” “Victimisation of whistle-blowerswill not under any
circumstances or anywhere be tolerated especially under thewatch of the
President Muhammadu Buhari government, which builds its reputationon the
fight against grand corruption. As a matter of law, the Council has a
responsibilityto promptly and thoroughly investigate allegations of
corruption and frauddisclosed by whistle-blowers such as the 23 SSANU
members, and where appropriatebring those suspected to be responsible to
justice.” “Encouraging whistle-blowersto speak up improves public
services and strengthens transparency and publicaccountability. Therefore,
it is in the interest of the University communityand all Nigerians that
allegations of corruption in the University system are promptlyrevealed,
investigated by an independent body and suspected perpetratorsbrought to
justice.” “The termination of theappointment of these staff members
amounts to retaliation. Their status as awhistle-blower is not diminished
even if the perceived threat to the publicinterest has not materialised,
since they would seem to have reasonable groundsto believe in the accuracy
of the disclosures on alleged corruption and fraudin the University.”
“SERAP believes thatwhistleblowing is very important in deterring and
preventing corruption, and instrengthening democratic accountability and
transparency in the country ingeneral. Whistleblowing is indeed a
fundamental aspect of freedom of expressionand freedom of conscience and
is important in tackling gross mismanagement ofour commonwealth.
Whistleblowing can act as an early warning to prevent damageas well as
detect wrongdoing that may otherwise remain hidden.” “Whistleblowing can
alsohelp ensure the effective compliance with Nigeria’s
internationalanticorruption obligations by allowing those legally
responsible for the allegedmisconduct the opportunity to address the
problem and to account forthemselves, and by more readily identifying
those who may be liable for anydamage caused.” “Dismissal of the 23
SSANUmembers breaches the letter and spirit of international
anticorruption treatiessuch as the UN Convention against Corruption to
which Nigeria is a state party.” The names of the dismissed SSANU
staffmembers are: Mr Bankole E. A; Mr Salaam A. O; Mr Somoye O. P; Mr
Fasunwon O. W;Mr Ojoye A. B; Dr Anjorin O S A; and Mr AdelekeH A. Others
are: Mr Obiriwonsi B; Mr Alayode O. T; Mr Iyeh R. O; Mrs Adebesin B.M; Mrs
Eyiowuawi C. A; Mr Olafimihan A. O; Mrs Dasaolu C. A; Mr Sonde J. O;
MrsOgunromila O. O; Mrs Adeyemi O. R; Mr Alabi K. O; Dr Olaniran I. O; Dr
salami O.O; Dr Ajayi A. O; Mr Oyero E. A and Miss Adeyemi K. O.
SIGNED AdetokunboMumuni SERAPExecutive Director 7/12/2016