SERAP calls on President Tinubu to probe the alleged disappearance of ₦57 billion in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, demanding accountability and transparency.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate an investigation into allegations of ₦57 billion in public funds being “missing, diverted or stolen” from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.
In a statement released on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP issued the call.
It urges the President to instruct Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, along with relevant anti-corruption agencies, to investigate the allegations.
According to the statement, it mentioned last week’s release of the 2021 audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
“The accusations equate to taking from the disadvantaged. There is a valid public interest in seeking justice and accountability for these serious claims,” it stated.
The allegations further indicate a serious breach of public trust, the amended Nigerian Constitution of 1999, national anticorruption laws, and international anticorruption commitments.
SERAP called for legal punishment for those found guilty, and insisted that “any missing public funds should be fully recovered and returned to the treasury.”
READ ALSO: UPDATED: President Tinubu Returns to Nigeria After G20 Summit in Brazil
The group voiced concern that impoverished Nigerians are still bearing the consequences of extensive and significant corruption within the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as other ministries, departments, and agencies.
It is reported that hundreds of billions of naira are missing from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The 2021 annual audited report from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation indicates that in 2021, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation did not account for over N54 billion (N54,630,000,000.00). This amount was designated to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.
According to the statement, “The funds were ‘not directly paid to the beneficiaries.’ The Auditor-General is worried that these funds ‘may have been diverted.’ He insists on recovering and returning the money to the treasury, and he advocates for sanctions against those suspected of diverting it in accordance with Financial Regulations.”
