By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Lagos based human rights and advocacy organisation, the Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned the Chairman,
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC) Professor Bolaji Owasanoye and the Acting Chairman, Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, urging them
to jointly and urgently invite Senators Godswill Akpabio and Isa Misau
for interrogation and further questioning over alleged diversion of
constituency projects.
SERAP advocated for prosecution of the two senators 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.
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 August 2,2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director
Kolawole Oluwadare, made available to TheNiche, it stated that 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.
SERAP added that 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.”
