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Tag: SERAP

  • Twitter ban: SERAP drags Buhari to ECOWAS court, appoints Falana

    Twitter ban: SERAP drags Buhari to ECOWAS court, appoints Falana

    Civil society organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project; and 176 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the government of the President Muhammadu Buhari at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja over the government’s suspension of microblogging platform, Twitter.

    The suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21 was filed on Tuesday by Solicitor to SERAP and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN.

    SERAP also maintained that the “suspension of Twitter is aimed at intimidating and stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and other social media platforms to assess government policies, expose corruption, and criticize acts of official impunity by the agents of the Federal Government.”

    In the suit, SERAP and the aggrieved Nigerians sought, “An order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone including media houses, broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria, to harassment, intimidation, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

    The Complainants also contended that “if this application is not urgently granted, the Federal Government will continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter and threaten to impose criminal and other sanctions on Nigerians, telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and other people using Twitter in Nigeria, the perpetual order sought in this suit might be rendered nugatory.”

    Details later…

     

  • #TwitterBan: SERAP rejects NBC’s order to broadcast stations

    #TwitterBan: SERAP rejects NBC’s order to broadcast stations

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned “the patently unlawful and unconstitutional directive by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to all broadcast stations in the country to suspend the patronage of Twitter with immediate effect.”

    The NBC had reportedly stated that the decision followed the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government over purported use of the platform for “activities that are capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria.”

    But SERAP in a statement today by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare stated: “This directive by the NBC is itself unlawful because it is based on another unlawful decision by the Federal Government to suspend Twitter in Nigeria. The NBC’s directive has political interference written all over it. It is a blow to Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression, media freedom, media independence and diversity. The directive must be immediately withdrawn.”

    The statement, read in part: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. This action by the NBC is yet another nail in the coffin for human rights, media freedom and independent journalism under this government.”

    “The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights should publicly and vigorously express concerns over the Nigerian government’s increasingly brutal crackdown on media freedom, and use all possible means to urge the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to protect and respect freedom of expression.”

    “The international community should stand with the broadcast stations and journalists and make clear to the Nigerian government that freedom of expression, media freedom, transparency and accountability, as well as respect for the rule of law are essential to democracy.”

    “The UN and donors should continue to take every opportunity to call on the Nigerian government to rescind the unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, respect freedom of expression, and media freedom, and hold to account anyone targeting broadcast stations and journalists simply for carrying out their professional duty.”

     

  • Missing N4.1bn: SERAP, Stakeholders Mount Pressure On NASS For Probe

    Missing N4.1bn: SERAP, Stakeholders Mount Pressure On NASS For Probe

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has restated a call for Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila to launch an immediate investigation into allegations of missing N4.1 billion budgeted for the National Assembly.

    It will be recalled that about a fortnight ago, SERAP had urged Lawan and Gbajabiamila to use their good offices to urgently probe fresh allegations that N4.1 billion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated, diverted, or stolen.

    SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare again urged the heads of the legislative arm of government to probe the allegation during a radio program, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE on RADIO, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

    Oluwadare who frowned at the non-action of the two legislative arms of the government since the report was published by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in 2016, maintained that the Rights group is only demanding the National Assembly to come clean on the missing funds.

    He noted that if the missing National Assembly fund is not resolved and explained it will affect citizen’s perception of the national assembly and much more importantly widen the curve of distrust between citizens and the government.

    “This report has been published since 2016. This is more than 5 years, one would have expected the national assembly to look at it and make a proper resolution because the law says they must, but in this instance, because the allegation is against the National Assembly.

    “One can understand the unwillingness of the National Assembly, and that’s why we are calling on the National Assembly and Nigerians to support this advocacy to ensure that this is not swept under the carpet. You can just guess how much N4 billion would help to reduce the deficit that we have in the 2021 budget.”

    Asked if there has been any reaction from the anti-corruption agencies, he said: “No, not at all, not from public officials, the ICPC, the EFCC, and not from the Nation Assembly and definitely not from the attorney general.”
    But we do hope that EFCC will take this up as it has in the past.”

    On his part, Community Engagement Officer at Connected Development, (Code) Mukhtar Moddibo, condemned the missing money at the National Assembly. commended SERAP’s effort and decried that transparency and accountability are seriously lacking in public sector management.

    He added that one of the major issues that hinder a lot of Nigerians from tracking corruption in the country is the non-availability of data.

    Moddibbo, however, believes that there is nothing concrete done against corruption that has been laden with several other issues.

    While a Political and Social Commentator, Chidozie Eze, attributed the cause of misappropriation of funds over the years at the National Assembly to greed, selfishness, responsiveness, religious and ethnic bias.

    According to Eze, misappropriation of funds is widespread in Nigeria because round pegs are put in a square hole. He also called on Federal Government to strengthen the whistle-blowing policy in order to galvanize more citizens into its anti-corruption war.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

  • SERAP drags FG, Kogi Govt to UN over ‘arbitrary detention of activists Larry and Victor’

    SERAP drags FG, Kogi Govt to UN over ‘arbitrary detention of activists Larry and Victor’

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent “an urgent complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention over the arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of activists Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka simply for peacefully exercising their right to protest in Kogi state.”

    SERAP said: “The arrest and continued detention of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka is an egregious violation of their human rights. The Nigerian and Kogi state authorities have violated the following rights under the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended) and international law in continuing to detain Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka: the right to be free from arbitrary detention; the right freedom from torture and ill-treatment, and the right to due process of law.”

    In the complaint dated 25 May, 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The detention of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of their liberty because it does not have any legal justification. The detention also does not meet minimum international standards of due process.”

    SERAP is calling on the Working Group to “initiate a procedure involving the investigation of the cases of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka, and urgently send an allegation letter to the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities inquiring about the case generally, and specifically about the legal basis for their arrest, detention, and ill-treatment, each of which is in violation of international law.”

    SERAP is also urging the Working Group to “issue an opinion declaring that Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka’s deprivation of liberty and detention is arbitrary and in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution and obligations under international law. We also urge the Working Group to call for the immediate release of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka.”

    According to SERAP, “We urge the Working Group to request the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities to investigate and hold accountable all persons responsible for the unlawful arrest, continued detention, and ill-treatment of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka in Kogi state.”

    SERAP is also calling on the Working Group “to request the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities to award Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka adequate compensation for the violations they have endured as a result of their unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, and ill-treatment.”

    The complaint addressed to Ms. Elina Steinerte Chairman/Rapporteur of the Working Group, read in part: “As set forth in this Individual Complaint, the Nigerian and Kogi State authorities are arbitrarily depriving Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka of their liberty and continues to arbitrarily detain them. Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka are citizens of Nigeria and have been detained since 5th April, 2021. They continue to be detained without access to the outside world.”

    “Pursuant to the mandate of the Working Group, the “Manual of Operations of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council” and the publication “Working with the UN Human Rights Programme, a Handbook for Civil Society”, SERAP, a non-governmental human rights organization, can provide information on a specific human rights case or situation in a particular country, or on a country’s laws and practices with human rights implications.”

    “SERAP therefore argues that the case adequately satisfies the requirements by which to submit an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.”

    “SERAP respectfully requests the Working Group to initiate the procedure involving the investigation of individual cases toward reaching an opinion declaring Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka’s detention to be arbitrary and in violation of international law. To this end, SERAP will pursue the regular communications procedure before the Working Group in order to have the ability to provide comments on any response by the Nigerian and Kogi State authorities.”

    “The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international law to protect the safety and rights of protesters and create an environment conducive to a diverse and pluralistic expression of ideas and peaceful dissent from government policy.”

    “The wave of protests against repression by both the Federal and Kogi state authorities illustrate a broken social contract between the authorities and Nigerians. The authorities have been failing to meet the demands of Nigerians to respect human rights, end restrictions on civic space, obey court orders and ensure the rule of law.”

    “The failure to hold to account those responsible has continued to increase the vulnerability of protesters and activists in the country.”

    “SERAP is seriously concerned that the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities have so far failed and/or neglected to address or redress the attacks on the peaceful protesters, despite growing calls on the authorities to investigate the attacks and bring perpetrators to justice.”

    “We urge you to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to take all feasible measures to protect peaceful protesters demanding the release of all prisoners of conscience, and full respect for the rule of law.”

    “We urge you to put pressure on the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities to make clear that they will not tolerate violent attacks on protesters. The authorities have a responsibility both to respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to protect protesters from violent attack.”

    “Emmanuel Larry and Victor Anen Udoka’s social activism and calls for peaceful protests led to escalating government harassment and their eventual arrest and detention. They are two of several youths who have been protesting against the Federal government.”

    “There was no warrant for Emmanuel Larry and Victor Anen Udoka’s arrest and they have been in detention for over forty days without bail, which has become a recurring pattern of the Nigerian authorities’ disdainful, illegal arrest and detention of protesters, journalists and activists”

    “According to their lawyer, Benjami Omeiza, he has no access to Emmanuel Larry and Victor Anen Udoka and that while he was negotiating for their release, Kogi State quickly arranged for a Magistrate to order their detention in Prison, ex-parte (without notice). They have been in Prison for over forty days afterwards. They have not been formally charged nor arraigned before any competent court of jurisdiction; neither have they been released.”

    “The attacks are coming on the heels of similar violent attacks by the military and the police on the #EndSars protesters demanding proscription of the erstwhile dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and violation of human rights by security agents in October, 2020 and the other protesters in March, 2021.”

  • SERAP tasks Buhari to ensure recovered Ibori’s loot is not re-stolen

    SERAP tasks Buhari to ensure recovered Ibori’s loot is not re-stolen

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that recovered loot from the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, is not re-stolen.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, had last week stated that the Federal Government recovered over $700m looted funds, disclosed the return of £4.2m linked to James Ibori, and the plan to repatriate more than £80m of Ibori loot.

    The group asked Buhari to “urgently direct Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to disclose spending details of the $700 million looted funds reportedly recovered by the Federal Government in the past four years, including the list and location of projects completed with the money, as well as details of the contractors that executed the projects.”

    This was contained in a Freedom of Information request dated 22 May, 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

    SERAP also urged him to “direct Mrs Ahmed to disclose how the government plans to spend the returned £4.2m Ibori loot, including details of planned capital expenditure, and whether there is any plan to ensure that the money and any future returned Ibori loot would be spent to achieve justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption in Delta State.”

    “Disclosing spending details of the recovered $700m loot, and spending plans for the £4.2m Ibori loot would promote transparency, accountability, and be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office to ensure the well-being of Nigerians.”

    “Rather than borrowing another N2.3trillion ($6.18bn) external loan, SERAP urges you to ensure a transparent and accountable use of recovered loot to fund the 2021 budget, improve the country’s economy, and address widespread poverty. This would promote a just and honest government, and ensure that recovered loot is not re-stolen at the expense of the poor.”

    “SERAP, therefore, urges you to withdraw your latest request seeking the approval of the National Assembly to borrow another $6.1billion in the public interests, and to ensure accountable fiscal stewardship of Nigeria’s money for both current and future generations.”

    “Providing the information and widely publishing the details would also enhance your government’s authority and credibility to demand the return of more looted public funds from abroad, as well as facilitate the repatriation of potentially billions of dollars still stashed in rich countries.”

  • NASS gets ultimatum to probe fresh N4.1bn missing funds in legislative arm

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has written to the leadership of the National Assembly over fresh allegations of missing N4.1 billion budgeted for the legislative arm of the government.

    The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in its 2016 audited report disclosed that the money is missing, misappropriated, diverted, or stolen.

    SERAP in its letter dated 15 May 2021 and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to “use their good offices to urgently probe and refer to appropriate anti-corruption agencies fresh allegations”.

    SERAP said: “these allegations are not part of the disclosure by the Auditor-General in other audited reports that N4.4 billion of National Assembly money is missing, misappropriated, diverted or stolen.”

    SERAP said the National Assembly has a key role to play in the fight against corruption in the country as part of its legislative and oversight functions.

    “But little can be achieved by the legislative body in the anti-corruption fight if the leadership and members do not first confront the spectre of alleged corruption and mismanagement within their ranks,” SERAP said.

    The organisation is also urging NASS leaders “to identify the lawmakers and staff members suspected to be involved, and hand them over to appropriate anti-corruption agencies to face prosecution, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and to ensure full recovery of any missing public funds.

    The letter, read in part: “Ensuring the effective investigation of these fresh allegations, and full recovery of any missing public funds would strengthen the country’s accountability framework, and show that the National Assembly can discharge its constitutional responsibility of amplifying the voices of Nigerians. It will also show that the body is acting in the best interest of the people.

    “SERAP is concerned that allegations of corruption continue to undermine economic development, violate social justice, and destroy trust in economic, social, and political institutions. Nigerians bear the heavy economic and social costs of corruption. The National Assembly therefore has a responsibility to curb it.

    “According to the Auditor-General Report for 2016, N4,144,706,602.68 of National Assembly money is missing, diverted or stolen. The National Assembly paid some contractors N417,312,538.79 without any documents. The Auditor-General wants the Clerk to the National Assembly to ‘recover the amount in question from the contractors.’”

    “The National Assembly reportedly spent N625,000,000.00 through its Constitution Review Committee between March and June 2016 but without any document. The Auditor-General wants the Clerk to the National Assembly to ‘recover the amount from the Committee and furnish evidence of recovery for verification.’

    “The National Assembly also reportedly spent N66,713,355.08 as ‘personnel cost’ but ‘the payees in the Cashbook did not correspond with those in the Bank Statement’. The Auditor-General wants ‘the irregular expenditure recovered from the officer who approved the payments.’

    “The National Assembly also reportedly paid N116,162,522.60 to some contractors between April and June, 2016 without any document. The National Assembly deducted N56,985,568.55 from various contract payments in respect of Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax but without any evidence of remittance.

    “The National Assembly also reportedly paid N126,264,320.00 as cash advances to 11 staff members between March and December, 2016 to procure goods and services but failed to remit the money.

    “The Senate reportedly paid N747,286,680.00 as personal advances to staff members between February and December, 2016 for various procurements and services but failed to retire the money. The Senate also deducted N118,625,057.48 as Withholding and Value Added Taxes but failed to show any evidence of remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

    “The Senate also spent N109,007,179.73 from the Capital Expenditure vote but without any document.

    “The House of Representatives reportedly deducted N821,564,296.48 from staff salaries but failed to remit the money to tax authorities. The House also paid N254,059,513.70 as advances to staff members to procure goods and services between January and December, 2016 but failed to retire the money.

    “The National Institute for Legislative Studies reportedly spent N375,867,000.00 to buy 11 motor vehicles in April 2016. But the Institute also paid the same contractor N36,610,000.00 in September 2016 under the same contract without approval.

    “The Institute also reportedly paid N10,927,768.80 to 7 members of staff who were redeployed from the National Assembly to provide specialized services but without details about the staff paid, and without any justification.”

    “The National Assembly Service Commission reportedly approved N109,995,400.00 to train some officers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates but spent N127,629,600.00 as Estacode Allowances to participants, and fees for two consultants engaged for the training. The Commission also spent N9,975,000.00 as course fees for 34 officers but it also paid a consultant N4,987,500.00 for the same course fees.

    “The Legislative Aides Section earned N12,274,587.77 as interests on Bank accounts in a commercial bank between January and December 2016 but failed to remit the money to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    “We would be grateful if you would indicate the measures being taken to address the allegations and to implement the proposed recommendations, within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

    “If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel the leadership of the National Assembly to implement these recommendations in the public interest, and to promote transparency and accountability in the National Assembly.

    “The National Assembly can only effectively perform its anti-corruption role if it can demonstrate exemplary leadership to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement involving the legislative body.

    “SERAP notes that the Auditor-General in the 2015, 2017, and 2018 reports documented that N4.4 billion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated, diverted or stolen.

    “Addressing the allegations would improve public confidence and trust in the ability of the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities, and to adhere to the highest standards of integrity.

    SERAP’s letter was copied to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abukabar Malami, SAN; Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Professor Bolaji Owasanoye; Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa; and chairmen of the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.

  • Alleged human rights abuse: ECOWAS court dismisses SERAP’s case against FG

    Alleged human rights abuse: ECOWAS court dismisses SERAP’s case against FG

    Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Tuesday welcomed an ECOWAS Court judgment dismissing a case filed by the trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Federal Government.

    Malami, in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, said the judgment has saved Nigeria from payment of billons of naira for bogus claims.

    He described the judgment as a clear vindication of the government’s efforts towards respecting human rights and international conventions.

    Malami, therefore renewed the commitment of his office to protecting the rights of citizens in all ramifications as well as protecting the public interest in the discharge of all constitutionally recognised mandate.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the judgment which was delivered on April 26, presided over by Justice Edward Asante with Justice Gberi-Be Outattara and Justice Januaria Costa as members declared the application inadmissible.

    SERAP through its solicitors; Olufunmilola Falana (Mrs), Olusola Egbeyinka, of Falana and Falana Chambers had on April 4, 2016 filed an application at the ECOWAS against “violation of human rights of Nigerians and other individuals.

    Such rights according to the applicants included the rights to life, to security of the human persons, to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being and right of property, guaranteed by Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 14 of the African Charter, Articles 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 2 and 6(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    The Federal Government solicitors; T.A Gazali, SAN and Adedayo Ogundele all of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, denied committing any violation against some groups.

    The federal government argued that most of the issues were either settled, or at the appeal courts for further interpretation and final resolution.

    The court held that the applicants’ application lacks proper identification, Applicant’s locus standing in the matter cannot be sustained to admit the case for determination.

    Consequently,the court held that the action cannot be admitted under such a fatal capacity of the Applicant and same is dismissed in its entirety”.

    The court further observed that the applicant, an NGO has not been directly affected by the alleged violations, therefore it does not fulfill the requirement of being a victim on its own right”.

  • ‘Intolerance at its peak,’ PDP, NGE, SERAP react to NBC’s sanction on Channels Television

    ‘Intolerance at its peak,’ PDP, NGE, SERAP react to NBC’s sanction on Channels Television

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned the sanctions imposed on Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    NGE said it condemned in strong terms the threat issued to the television station by the NBC over an interview with the spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mr. Emmanuel Powerful.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Powerful had featured on Channels programme “Politics Today” on Sunday April 25, 2021 , where he allegedly made inciting statements.

    The NBC in the letter ordered the immediate suspension of the programme.

    NGE, in a statement said: “Press freedom is threatened when media houses are made to operate in an atmosphere of fear.

    “The Guild stands with Channels and will go to any length to defend press freedom in the country.

    “The body of editors believes that the NBC is guilty of double standards because stations that carried Sheikh Gumi’s parley with terrorists in their camps, were not sanctioned by the commission.

    “The NBC should jettison the practice of issuing threats to broadcast stations over matters that could easily be dealt with through dialogue.

    “Democracy will be meaningless in Nigeria if press freedom is eroded.”

    SERAP on its part urged the Federal Government and NBC to immediately reverse the suspension and fine on the television station.

    SERAP in a statement by its deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare said: “The suspension of Channels Television is unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and without any legal basis whatsoever. The government and NBC should immediately lift the suspension and reverse the fine. We will pursue appropriate legal action if the arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal suspension and fine are not reversed within 48 hours.”

    SERAP said further: “This action by the government and NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices.

    The government and NBC should lift the suspension and uphold the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria’s main opposition party, PDP in its submission on described as draconian, the suspension and fine of N5 million slammed by NBC on Channels Television.

    The PDP said without prejudice to the issues raised against Channels Television, the reported hasty clamp down, without the benefit of caution, was suggestive of intolerance and high-handedness by the regulatory body.

    “Our party is worried that such disposition could be counter-productive and heighten the already tensed situation in our nation at this critical time.

    “The PDP therefore urges the NBC to review the punitive measure on the media house as well as scale up system-friendly measure that will ensure best practices in information dissemination in our country”, the party said.

  • Safe School Fund: Probe Missing $30 Million, SERAP Tells Buhari

    Safe School Fund: Probe Missing $30 Million, SERAP Tells Buhari

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, (SAN) to probe the allegations on the missing, mismanaged or diverted 30million dollars Safe School Fund.

    SERAP in a statement through its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged that anyone involved with the missing funds should be brought to justice and as well as recover the money.

    “Direct Mr Malami and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate why the Safe Schools Initiative, established to bolster security at schools in response to the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls has failed to stop frequent abductions of students and to ensure the safety and security of Nigerian children in schools across the country.”

    SERAP also urged President Buhari to “ask the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Mr. Gordon Brown to wait for the outcome of any investigation into the spending of the $30m initially budgeted for the Safe School Initiative programme before leading the international community and donors to push for more funds for the programme.”

    SERAP’s letter followed the killing of three abducted Greenfield University students, and the plan launched by the Federal Government last week to raise additional funds for safe schools.

    The commission said, “Rather than pushing to raise more funds for the Safe School Initiative programme, your government should prioritise and ensure a thorough, transparent, and effective investigation into the spending of the $30m initially budgeted for the protection of schools, prevention of attacks, and continued education of students.

    “SERAP will also consider asking Mr Brown to use his influence to insist on transparency and accountability in the spending of the $30m safe school fund before rushing to engage donors to commit to additional funding of the Safe School Initiative programme.”

    The commission asked the 36 state governors to accept voluntary scrutiny by Nigerians and civil society regarding the spending of any funds spearheaded and raised to improve safety and security in Nigerian schools

    “Despite the $30m safe school fund meant to ensure safety and security in 500 schools, and to provide a school environment free of fear, no school has been protected, as illustrated by the recent spate of abductions and killings of students in several parts of the country.

    “Allegations of corruption in the spending of the $30m safe school fund undermine the safety and security of Nigerian children in schools and deny access of poor children to quality education in a safe environment because the money that the government should be spending to provide safe schools for Nigerian children is squandered or stolen.

    “The Nigerian government has a legal obligation to protect Nigerian children from all forms of violence and other human rights abuses including abductions, killings, and to prevent and combat corruption in the spending of funds budgeted to improve safety and security in schools”.

    According to SERAP, attacks on students, teachers, and their families violate constitutional and international human rights law and force many families to keep their children home. This aggravates existing disparities in access to education, further marginalizing the poor.”

    “The government’s apparent failure to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of the $30m safe school fund is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and violates Nigeria’s obligations under international law and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

    “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

    “According to our information, the Federal Government, state governors and security agencies together with foreign governments and UN agencies last week launched a plan in Abuja to finance safe schools in Nigeria.”

    “Mr. Gordon Brown who attended the meeting reportedly promised to rally global support for the programme, and stated that ‘donors are all ready and willing to help in the latest move to fund and re-energize the initiative.’”

    “The plan to raise more funds for safe schools was launched barely a week after the 7th anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, which led to the launch of the Safe School Initiative programme.”

    SERAP noted that the Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure that federal authorities and state governments are transparent and accountable to Nigerians in how they spend safe school funds, and to tread carefully in raising additional funds before probing the spending of the $30m funds.

    “According to our information, the Government Secondary School in Chibok is still in ruins despite funds that were committed to its renovation. Allan Manasseh, spokesman for the Chibok community reportedly stated: ‘It was a substandard structure, every wind that blew destroyed a part of the building. It kept falling off again and again and till today it has not been used.’”

    “Corruption poses a critical threat to the enjoyment of the right to education. It weakens institutions, erodes public trust in government and impairs the ability of states to fulfill their human rights obligations. It also undercuts both access to and the quality of education, and hits hardest at the most vulnerable and marginalised sectors of society.”

    “Education is a basic right enshrined in various international treaties ratified by Nigeria, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Education is empowering, and enables children to realize all of their human rights”, the commission added.

    Also in the copy of the letter is Mr. Malami; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic, and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Mr. Brown.

  • $30m safe school fund missing, Buhari tasked to order probe

    $30m safe school fund missing, Buhari tasked to order probe

    Following the kidnap of Greenfield University students and the killing of three of them, Nigerian rights group has alerted about a missing $30million meant to ensure the safety of schools.

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which made the allegation has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate it.

    The group said the $30m safe school fund is either missing, mismanaged or diverted.

    It said the probe will bring to justice anyone suspected to be involved, as well as recover any missing money.

    The Safe Schools Initiative fund was established to bolster security at schools in response to the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2018.

    However, abduction of students has continued.

    SERAP also urged Buhari to “ask the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Mr Gordon Brown to wait for the outcome of any investigation into the spending of the $30m initially budgeted for the Safe School Initiative programme before leading the international community and donors to push for more funds for the programme.”

    SERAP’s letter followed the killing of three abducted Greenfield University students, and the plan launched by the Federal Government last week to raise additional funds for safe schools.

    In the letter dated 24 April 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Rather than pushing to raise more funds for the Safe School Initiative programme, your government should prioritise and ensure a thorough, transparent and effective investigation into the spending of the $30m initially budgeted for the protection of schools, prevention of attacks, and continued education of students.”

    Copies of the letter were sent to Mr Malami; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Mr Brown.