The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, or SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that he failed to investigate allegations that N106 billion in public funds had gone missing from 149 ministries, departments, and agencies, or MDAs, and to ensure the prosecution of those suspected of being responsible, as well as the recovery of any missing public funds.
The complaint came after the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation said in his 2018 annual audited report that N105,662,350,077.46 in public funds had gone missing, been misused, or been unaccounted for across 149 MDAs.
SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing N106 billion in public funds, ensure prosecution of anyone suspected of being responsible, and the full recovery of any missing public money” in a suit filed last week in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
"Recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, allow the authorities to meet the country's constitutional and international obligations, and reduce the growing level of public debts,” SERAP claims in the lawsuit.
According to SERAP, “directing and compelling President Buhari to ensure that the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General is investigated and prosecuted would be entirely consistent with the government's own commitment to fight corruption, improve the integrity of MDAs, and serve the public interest.”
“The alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the indicted MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens,” according to SERAP, “because the missing funds could have helped the government invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these goods and services.”
The complaint came after the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation said in his 2018 annual audited report that N105,662,350,077.46 in public funds had gone missing, been misused, or been unaccounted for across 149 MDAs.
SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing N106 billion in public funds, ensure prosecution of anyone suspected of being responsible, and the full recovery of any missing public money” in a suit filed last week in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
"Recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, allow the authorities to meet the country's constitutional and international obligations, and reduce the growing level of public debts,” SERAP claims in the lawsuit.
According to SERAP, “directing and compelling President Buhari to ensure that the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General is investigated and prosecuted would be entirely consistent with the government's own commitment to fight corruption, improve the integrity of MDAs, and serve the public interest.”
“The alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the indicted MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens,” according to SERAP, “because the missing funds could have helped the government invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these goods and services.”
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