SERAP sues Buhari over failure to probe missing ecological funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over failure to probe how trillions of ecological funds have been spent by all levels of governments from 2001 to date and prosecuting anyone that is involved in corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha are also joined in the suit as respondents.

This is coming as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently said that no fewer than 600 persons died and 1.3 million were displaced as a result of the floods that ravaged most states across the country, with the destruction of properties worth billions.

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In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2283/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel President Buhari to promptly and thoroughly investigate the spending of Ecological Fund by governments at the Federal, state and local government levels from 2001 to date.”

SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel President Buhari to ensure that suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement of trillions of ecological funds are promptly brought to justice and any missing public funds fully recovered as “the failure to probe the alleged missing trillions, prosecute suspected perpetrators and recover any missing public funds is a fundamental breach of constitutional and international legal obligations.”

SERAP also argues that “impunity for corruption in the management of Ecological Fund will continue as long as high-ranking public officials go largely unpunished for their alleged crimes.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

SERAP sues Buhari over failure to probe missing ecological funds