SERAP urges Tinubu to probe and dismantle subsidy cabal
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
President Bola Tinubu has been asked the Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to investigate the $2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion subsidy payments allegedly missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.
Tinubu should “set up a presidential panel of enquiry to promptly probe the grim allegations that $2.1bn and N3.1tn public funds of oil revenues and budgeted as fuel subsidy payments are missing and unaccounted between 2016 and 2019, as documented by the Auditor General of the Federation,” SERAP Deputy Director Kolawale said in a statement.
“Name and shame anyone suspected to be responsible for the alleged widespread and systemic corruption in the use of oil revenues and the management of public funds budgeted as fuel subsidy, and to ensure their effective prosecution as well as the full recovery of any proceeds of crime.
“Promptly, thoroughly, independently, transparently and effectively probe all fuel subsidies paid by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999, and to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address the impact of any subsidy removal on poor Nigerians.”
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Legitimate public interest in probe
Oluwadare had in a letter to Tinubu, dated 3 June 2023, argued “there is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these serious allegations. There will be no economic growth or sustainability without accountability for these human rights crimes.”
SERAP urged Tinubu to urgently act to follow due process of law in any policy to remove fuel subsidy, ensure that suspected perpetrators of these crimes against Nigerians are brought to justice and full recovery of any missing public funds, per The PUNCH.
“Arbitrarily removing fuel subsidy without addressing outstanding accountability issues in the alleged mismanagement of oil revenues and fuel subsidy payments would amount to further impoverishing the poor while letting high-profile officials and non-state actors get away with their crimes.”
SERAP threatened to file a lawsuit against Tinubu if he ignores the demand to order a probe within three days.
