The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Godswill Akpabio and Isa Misau over alleged diversion of constituency projects.
Akpabio was recently screened by the Senate after his nomination as minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The organization said: “If the ICPC and EFCC consider the recovered hospital equipment and six tractors allegedly diverted for the personal use of the senators as relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, we urge you to promptly begin prosecution of the former senators.”
In a petition signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Inviting those suspected to be involved for interrogation and further questioning, and for them to promptly face prosecution as appropriate, would show that no one is above the law.
It would be entirely consistent with the exercise of your mandates to combat corruption and with both the spirit and the letter of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”
According to the organization, “When members of the National Assembly divert constituency projects for personal use, the essence of such projects is defeated, and the integrity of the mechanism compromised.”
The petition, copied to Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, read in part: “Corruption in the provision of public services such as healthcare affects and distorts the delivery of services and the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
