<\/p>\n
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open<\/p>\n
letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan seeking explanations from him
\non \u201cwhat you knew or had reason to know on the apparent diversion and
\nsharing of over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms to fight Boko
\nHaram.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter dated 8 January 2016 and signed by SERAP executive director
\nAdetokunbo Mumuni reads in part: \u201cSERAP is sending you this open letter to
\nseek explanations from you, as former President and Commander-in-Chief of
\nthe Nigerian Armed Forces, on what you knew, or had reason to know on the
\napparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase
\narms to empower Nigerian soldiers to fight Boko Haram.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSERAP considers that there is enough material in the public domain to
\nsuggest that over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms to equip Nigerians
\nsoldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North East of the country was diverted
\nand shared among high-ranging government and party officials under your
\nwatch as President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSERAP and indeed Nigerians reserve the right to pursue justice through
\nappropriate national and international accountability mechanisms to ensure
\nthat everyone involved in this heinous crime is brought to justice in
\naccordance with international standards of fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it correct to suggest that the budget of over $2 billion to purchase
\narms for Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North-East of the
\ncountry was authorised by you or your office? In other words, did your
\nformer National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) seek your
\napproval to collect from the Central Bank of Nigeria the over $2 billion
\nmeant for purchase of arms for Nigerian soldiers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf so, Nigerians would like to hear from you whether the apparent
\ndiversion and sharing of our commonwealth by your former NSA was expressly
\nor implicitly authorised by you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it then correct to suggest that the former NSA implements presidential
\ndecisions and not make them? If so, is it also correct to suggest that the
\napparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion meant for purchase
\nof arms was a presidential-level decision and that you signed off on it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it not correct to suggest that your Administration acted on the basis
\nthat it was essentially unrestrained by international or Nigerian law in
\nengaging in or encouraging the apparent diversion and sharing of the over
\n$2 billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers in order to
\nprotect them against attacks from Boko Haram and to enhance their ability
\nto defend the territorial integrity of the country and provide security
\nfor its citizens?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAssuming you did not directly order or authorise the apparent diversion
\nand sharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian
\nsoldiers, is it fair to suggest that you at least knew, or had reason to
\nknow, that your own former NSA was apparently involved in the heinous
\ncrime of corruption to wit: the diversion and sharing of over $2 billion
\nmeant to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers; and did not take all
\nnecessary and reasonable measures in your power as Commander-in-Chief and
\nPresident to prevent the alleged diversion and sharing of our
\ncommonwealth, as explained above?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you accept that the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2
\nbillion was largely due to your failure to ensure: (1) that system was in
\nplace to ensure a transparent and accountable spending of budget for
\nmilitary operations in strict accordance with the standards of
\ninternational law including the UN Convention against Corruption; (2) that
\nany such system was operating in a continuous and effective manner; and
\n(3) that violations of the standards were punished when detected by that
\nsystem?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion was
\nbrought to your attention, did you take any step to refer your former NSA
\nand all those involved in the diversion and sharing to appropriate
\nanticorruption agencies to ensure that all those who were alleged to be
\nresponsible for this heinous crime of corruption are brought to justice?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you agree that the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2
\nbillion meant for purchase of arms for Nigerian soldiers has seriously
\nundermined the ability of the soldiers to defend themselves and fight Boko
\nHaram; resulted in some soldiers being unfairly tried for refusing to
\nfight without being provided with necessary arms; inflicted severe pain or
\nsuffering; and caused unnecessary loss of lives and displacement of
\nlaw-abiding citizens?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould SERAP be correct to suggest that you, as President and
\nCommander-in-Chief, knew about the authorization, apparent diversion and
\nsharing of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian
\nsoldiers, in the chain of command involving your former NSA and others?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould it therefore be correct to further suggest that your acts and\/or
\nomissions concerning the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $ 2
\nbillion were such as to give rise to personal liability through command
\nresponsibility for the actions of your former NSA and others who worked
\nunder you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you now, on the basis of the above, apologise to Nigerians for the
\napparent diversion and sharing of the over $2 billion and the catastrophic
\nconsequences for Nigerian soldiers and their families, including those who
\nhave lost their lives; those unfairly tried and convicted; and millions of
\ndisplaced Nigerians?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNigerians are eagerly awaiting your clarifications on the issues raised
\nabove, and your apology.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan seeking explanations from him on \u201cwhat you knew or had reason to know…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n