Alleged budget padding: SERAP asks Dogara, others to step aside
(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an open letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dogara Yakubu requesting him and other principal officers “suspected to be involved in the alleged budget padding to step aside pending the outcome of investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other agencies.”
The letter by SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo
Mumuni, states that, “Following
confirmation received by SERAP from the EFCC that it has taken up and looking
into SERAP’s petition to the body on the allegations that the leadership of the
House of Representatives padded the 2016 budget to the tune of N481 billion,
SERAP is now writing to request you to immediately step aside from your
position as Speaker of the House of Representatives pending the out outcome of
the investigation.”
The letter reads, “We also urge you to ensure that other
principal officers of the House suspected to be involved in the alleged padding
step aside from their positions to allow for the investigation by the EFCC and
other agencies to go ahead unhindered.”
“SERAP has also reviewed several documents circulating on
the internet on the alleged budget padding and we believe that these documents
establish a prima-facie case of corruption, which deserves a thorough,
transparent, independent and effective investigation by the EFCC and other
agencies.
“In the circumstances, SERAP calls on you to demonstrate
your often-expressed commitment to transparency, accountability,
constitutionalism, democratic governance and the rule of law in Nigeria by now
stepping aside from your position as Speaker and to ensure that other principal
officers suspected to be involved in the budget padding do the same, pending
the outcome of the investigation already by the EFCC.
“SERAP’s call is entirely consistent with the constitution
of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). As the supreme law of the land, all organs of
government including the National Assembly are obliged to perform their
functions in accordance with the constitution and other enabling laws.
“SERAP agrees with the Constitutional Court of Uganda when
it asserted in Constitutional Petition No. 47 of 2011 Twinobusingye Severino vs
Attorney General that, ‘In modern democracies, the term ‘stepping aside’ is now
generally taken as part of the responsibility of the holder of a public office
in discharging his or her duty of being accountable to the people. Thus a
culture has developed in modern democracies, Uganda inclusive, whereby a Public
officer whose conduct in a public office is being questioned steps aside, on
his or her own, to enable investigations to be carried out without his or her
influence.
“Indeed, SERAP believes that the necessity of being
accountable to the people, by anyone holding a public office in Nigeria is
clearly embedded in the constitution as provided under Chapter 2 titled: Fundamental
Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.”
“Specifically, Chapter 2 provides among others that all
public offices shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people; that all persons
placed in positions of leadership and responsibility shall in their work be
answerable to the people; and that all lawful measures shall be taken to
expose, combat and eradicate corruption and abuse or misuse of power by those
holding political and other public offices.
“SERAP believes that the allegations of budget padding by
the leadership of the House of Representatives have undermined the status of
the National Assembly which is supposed to be the fountain of
constitutionalism. The Speaker, as the head of the House, has a big role to
play in guiding parliamentarians to embrace transparency by sending a powerful
message that allegations of corruption will not be condoned, tolerated or
covered up.
“SERAP believes that the House of Representatives cannot
function effectively nor enjoy public trust and confidence as long as the
allegations of budget padding continue to trail its leadership.
“By stepping aside and ensuring that others suspected to be involved
in the budget padding also step aside until such a time as the investigations
by the EFCC and other agencies are completed, you will be promoting acts that
would enhance the integrity and respect for the National Assembly, as well as
strict observance of the constitution both in letter and spirit.”
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