President Muhammadu Buhari has been issued 14-day deadline to probe alleged misuse of security votes by governors of the 36 states of the federation.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) issued the deadline in a statement on Sunday, urging Buhari to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly investigate allegations of systemic mismanagement of security votes by state governors since 1999.
SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any mismanaged public funds should be fully recovered.”
Buhari had in his 2022 New Year Message raised concerns about “the persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country,” and promised to “remain resolute in our commitments” to give “utmost attention to the problem.”
In the letter dated 1 January 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The most satisfactory and effective way to demonstrate the oft-repeated commitments to address the insecurity in the country is to promptly and thoroughly probe persistent allegations of corruption in the spending of security votes by state governors.”
SERAP said: “Probing the spending of security votes and ensuring accountability for any cases of corruption would improve the ability of your government to deliver on the promises to ensure the security of Nigerians, and to keep them safe.”
