Africa Press-Nigeria:
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Muhammadu Buhari 14 days to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and anti-corruption agencies, to probe alleged missing N300billion public funds.
The body based its demand on the 2017 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF).
The July 4, 2020 letter was signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
It deplored that shocking revelations of mismanagement, diversion and stealing of public funds, as well as unaccounted-for spending.
Copied were Malami; Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); and Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance.
The rights group charged the President and all officials to act urgently act.
SERAP stated that the audit report suggests a grave violation of the public trust, and revealed that indicted Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)and the National Assembly lack effective and credible internal processes to prevent and combat corruption.
It was uncovered that the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) allegedly spent ₦25,856,279 on behalf of Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop online recruitment in April 2014 without any supporting memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and without due process.
Although the project was suspended, the Commission allegedly paid ₦25,856,279 for contract not executed. The AGF recommended the full recovery of the public funds.
The audit report said granted cash advances totalling ₦8,590,000 to 25 officials between February and December, 2016 but failed to retire or account for the money.
₦6,850,000 was allegedly paid for store items that were never supplied. Another ₦2,619,210 was spent without receipts. The AGF expressed concern that the money may have been misappropriated or stolen, and recommended the full recovery of public funds.
The report noted that ex-Chairman of the Commission whose tenure of office ended in May 2017, allegedly cornered four vehicles (1 Toyota Hilux, 1 407 Classic Peugeot, 1 Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep and 1 Toyota Corolla), despite the Monetization Policy of Government which states that all vehicles must not be taken away.
SERAP cited that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to show any receipts for the payment of ₦4,385,230,763 between January and December 2016. The Ministry also had no insurance cover for all its motor-vehicles, despite the budgetary allocation of ₦11,805,802 for insurance premium.
The Ministry was found to have spent ₦105,000,000 to buy computer consumables, photocopy machine consumables, papers and other store items, contrary to official circular, and without any receipts. The AGF recommended the return of the money to the public treasury.
It allegedly expended ₦72,000,030 to improve power supply to the Ministry but the contract for this was not captured in the 2017 appropriation. Despite the purported spending, power supply to the Ministry has not improved.
