SERAP urges Buhari to probe World Bank’s role in repatriation of Abacha loot
World Bank Group. Photo: techcabal
THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the role and involvement of the World Bank in the repatriation, management and spending of repatriated Abacha stolen funds and other similar funds with a view to ensuring full transparency and accountability in these transactions.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Adetokunbo Mumuni, in a statement yesterday said “President Buhari should make sure that never again will the prerogative of mercy be used to save corrupt officials and grant impunity for corruption as it was done by former President Goodluck Jonathan with respect to corruption cases against Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.”
The organisation in its new report called on the World Bank to publicly disclose the level of involvement of the bank in the repatriation of Abacha stolen funds and other similar funds to Nigeria, and its role on the management and spending of such funds, as well as the projects on which the funds were spent.
It further called on the World Bank to publicly disclose its involvement in any other ongoing repatriation initiative to Nigeria, and the mechanisms it is putting in place to ensure transparency and accountability of such mechanisms and the judicious use of repatriated funds.
The 37-page report launched yesterday at the Westown Hotels, Lagos titled: Deterring Kleptocracy: Finding Nigeria’s Re-Stolen Billions and Repatriating Looted Assets, stated that over $3 billion recovered Abacha loot; $87 million stolen funds by the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun and over $20 million stolen funds by former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, among others may have disappeared or mismanaged by successive governments.
It called on the Buhari government to thoroughly investigate the management and spending of the stolen funds. The report also urges the Buhari government to “revisit and challenge in court unfair settlements in bribery cases by successive governments and repatriation agreement between the government of former president Goodluck Jonathan and the family of the late General Sani Abacha dated 14th July 2014 and other similar dodgy and unfair agreements with a view to getting better deals, receiving damages/compensations from companies such as Halliburton and achieving justice for the Nigerian people.”
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2 Comments
SERAP – Adetokunboh Mumu ni again on corruption Hummm!!!! There is a common saying – “First remove the plank in your eye before trying to remove the speck in someone else’s.” Mouths are wagging around Lagos Island local government area on how Adetokunboh Mumu ni 419 a fellow of millions of naira in a property sales deal. He collected millions of naira to purchase property, but never deliver nor return the money. First, Mumuni ni must clear his name as regards this 419 act before he can be a spokesperson on “Rights and accountability”
this is a right thoughs in the right direction. sai Buhari
We will review and take appropriate action.