SERAP sues Tinubu over failure to probe missing N57b in ministry, others

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Bola Tinubu at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over failure to direct the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations that over N57 billion of public funds are missing, diverted or stolen from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021 alone.

Joined in the suit as respondent is Fagbemi. The damning allegations are documented in the 2021 audited report released last month by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
  
In the suit number FHC/L/MISC/876/2024 filed at the weekend, SERAP is asking the court to compel Tinubu to direct Fagbemi to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe the allegation.
  
SERAP is also asking the court to compel Tinubu to direct Fagbemi to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing N57 billion, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and to recover any missing public fund.
  
In the suit, filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Oluwakemi Agunbiade, the organisation argued that investigating the allegation and prosecuting those suspected to be responsible for the missing N57 billion and recovering the missing funds would end the impunity of perpetrators.
  
It also argued that the allegations amount to stealing from the poor, noting a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for the allegations.
  
According to the body, poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
  
SERAP stated: “The damning revelations are documented in the 2021 audited report released recently by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation. Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other MDAs.
  
“The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.” No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.