Floods: SERAP gives Buhari ultimatum to trace trillions of ecological funds

By Adeleye Kunle

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the spending of the Ecological Fund by governments at all levels from 2001 to date.

The body charged him to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and anti-corruption agencies to take action.

SERAP wants suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement to face prosecution while missing public funds traced should be fully recovered.

The call followed the flooding which has resulted in the loss of over 600 lives, displacement of more than a million persons, and destruction of properties worth billions.

Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Kogi, Rivers, Benue, and Yobe are some of the worst-affected states.

A letter by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare said “trillions of ecological funds have allegedly gone down the drain”.

The organization noted that the federal government has obligations to use all the means at its disposal to uphold the human rights of victims.

Citing the audit of the Ecological Fund Office carried out by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), SERAP said N277 billion was disbursed from December 2011 to November 2016.

The letter pointed out that from 2012 to 2016, some of the disbursements were not utilised for the purpose for which it was established.

“Impunity for corruption will continue as long as high-ranking public officials go largely unpunished for their alleged crimes.

“It is by pursuing these allegations and taking the evidence before the court that the truth will be revealed and justice best served.”

SERAP indicated that it would file a lawsuit if the federal authorities fail to act within seven days of its demand for a probe.