Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned
Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Ibrahim Mustafa Magu,
Acting Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urging
them to “jointly and urgently invite senators Godswill Akpabio and Isa
Misau for interrogation and further questioning over alleged diversion
of constituency projects.”
The organization said: “If the ICPC and EFCC consider the recovered
hospital equipment and six tractors allegedly diverted for the personal
use of the senators as relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, we
urge you to promptly begin prosecution of the former senators.”
The ICPC had last week stated that it recovered from the premises and
farmland allegedly belonging to the senators equipment meant for
constituency projects in some local government areas of Akwa Ibom and
Bauchi states.
In a petition dated 2 August 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director
Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Inviting those suspected to
be involved for interrogation and further questioning, and for them to
promptly face prosecution as appropriate, would show that no one is
above the law. It would be entirely consistent with the exercise of your
mandates to combat corruption, and with both the spirit and the letter
of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state
party.”
SERAP expressed: “concern that these cases illustrate the growing
allegations of massive corruption in constituency projects and the
importance of not only monitoring the projects but thoroughly and
effectively investigating reported cases of corruption and promptly
bringing suspected perpetrators to justice.”
According to the organization, “When members of the National Assembly
divert constituency projects for personal use, the essence of such
projects is defeated, and the integrity of the mechanism compromised.”
The petition, copied to Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential
Advisory Committee Against Corruption, read in part: “Corruption in the
provision of public services such as healthcare affects and distorts the
delivery of services and the right to the highest attainable standard of
health. As the recoveries by the ICPC have shown, cases of corruption in
constituency projects cause under-provision, divert public resources, or
simply limit access to public services or make them unavailable.”
“SERAP notes Section 15(5) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as
amended) to the effect that ‘The State shall abolish all corrupt
practices and abuse of power.’ Similarly, the UN Convention against
Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party requires the authorities to
ensure effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and penalties
for corruption.”
“The allegations of diversion of constituency projects by public
officers have weakened public confidence in the effectiveness of the
mechanism as currently implemented to deliver essential public services
to those most in need. Unresolved allegations of corruption in
constituency projects would significantly contribute to impunity for
grand corruption in Nigeria and pose a serious threat to probity in
public life, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
“Allegations of corruption in constituency projects meant to be
implemented for the common good and not the personal gains of lawmakers,
would ultimately undermine the principles of representative and
accountable government that acts in the public interest, and equality
and fairness.”
“Corruption in the health sector or provision of support to farmers
unfairly punishes the poor, and depresses living standards and
opportunities for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged population.”
“Inviting those suspected to be involved for interrogation and further
questioning, and prosecuting them if the recoveries by the ICPC indicate
relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, would show your agencies’
willingness to exert your authorities and act as a deterrent against
breaches of Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation and international
standards.”
“SERAP urges both the ICPC and EFCC to jointly act to continue to ensure
greater level of transparency and accountability in the implementation
of constituency projects and to name and shame those suspected to be
involved, if Nigeria is not to continue to witness damaging allegations
of diversion and other forms of corruption in the implementation of
constituency projects.”
“The ICPC reported that it recovered hospital equipment meant for
constituency project on the premises of Mma Obot Foundation, which is
allegedly owned by Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom. Among
the recoveries are dialysis machine, ECG monitor, oxygen regulator,
anaesthetic machines, generators and other hospital equipment meant for
a cottage hospital in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa
Ibom State.”
“The ICPC also recovered six tractors from a farm belonging to Isa
Hamman Misau, a former senator who represented Bauchi central. The
tractors were meant for the use of farmers in six local government areas
of Bauchi Central Senatorial District. The items were recovered during
the ICPC’s ongoing tracking of constituency projects around the
country.”
“The tractors formed part of the N430m contract for the supply of
pumping machines and other agricultural machinery to farmers in the
senatorial district, which was awarded in 2015 by the Federal Government
as part of the senators’ constituency projects across the nation. The
sum of N76.6m was said to be paid for the tractors in December 2015,
which were supplied in March 2016.”