The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to clarify the controversy surrounding the ownership of the N13 billion ($43.4 million, N23 million and £27,000) found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos,
It asked the President to address the country on the matter to clarify the issue and resolve the “lingering doubts among Nigerians regarding the real owner(s) of the cash”.
The organisation urged Buhari to ensure legal backing for his government’s whistle-blowing policy at the National Assembly.
SERAP noted that both Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) last week reportedly claimed ownership of the cash, casting doubts on the “real claimants”.
In a statement yesterday signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation advised government to ensure that its
increasing reliance on whistle-blowers’ tips to fight corruption is backed by some level of transparency and accountability to unearth the real identities of those claiming the recovered cash.
It emphasised that clearing the doubts surrounding the real identities will demonstrate that the President values transparency over secrecy, provide further encouragement to blow the whistle on governmental corruption and enhance the public right to know.
According to the organisation, “Democracy abhors secrecy and for Nigerians to be able to hold elected leaders accountable, they must have access to information such as on the real identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul. This transparency is fundamental to the operation of the government’s whistle-blower policy, and inextricably rooted in the notions of good governance and the rule of law under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).”
It added: “No good comes from secrecy in governance, as officials who have become accustomed to operating without accountability are loath to relinquish the power that comes from conducting their business without public scrutiny.”
