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SERAP sues Buhari, others over failure to probe allegation of missing N881b

By Silver Nwokoro
01 November 2021   |   3:05 am
Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari and two others at the Federal High Court in Abuja over failure to probe allegations

Buahri

Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari and two others at the Federal High Court in Abuja over failure to probe allegations of N881 billion missing public funds from 367 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The body wants Buhari to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, and the recovery of any missing or diverted public funds.

Joined in the suit as respondents are: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed.

The suit followed allegations contained in part two of the 2018 yearly audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation that N880,894,733,084.811 was spent by 367 MDAs without any appropriation.

In the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1281/2021) filed last week on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer Kolawole Oluwadare, the rights organisation seeks an order of mandamus to direct and compel Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing public funds, ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible, and full recovery of any missing, mismanaged or diverted public funds.

The body argues that complying with constitutional requirements and international standards on the spending of public funds would ensure effective and efficient management of public resources, and put the country’s wealth and resources to work for the common good of all Nigerians.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

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