SERAP Urges Tinubu to Investigate Borno Govt’s Spending of Billions in Ecological Funds
September 22, 2024
By Okafor Joseph Afam
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into the spending of billions of naira in Ecological Funds by the Borno State government since 2001. SERAP is urging the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, along with other anti-corruption agencies, to launch the probe, particularly focusing on N816 million received by the state between January and June 2024.
In its letter, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and sent on Saturday, the organization emphasized the need for accountability and prosecution of any individuals found culpable of mismanaging or embezzling the ecological funds. SERAP further demanded the recovery of any proceeds of corruption identified during the investigation.
The group highlighted the government’s responsibility to protect citizens from the devastating effects of floods and ensure that funds allocated to mitigate such disasters are not misused. SERAP’s letter stated, “Your government has a legal obligation to address the prevalence of flooding across the country and its effect on people, and to ensure that the money meant to stop the floods is not lost to corruption.”
The organization pointed out that the destruction in Borno serves as a stark reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in the use of ecological funds by all levels of government and emergency management agencies.
SERAP warned that if the government fails to act on their request within seven days of receiving or publishing the letter, they would consider taking legal action to compel compliance in the public interest. The letter concluded by reiterating the government’s legal duty to protect the rights of flood victims in Borno and across the country.
