The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP) has asked Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr
Yakubu Dogara to step aside from his office for investigation into
alleged budget padding by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
The organisation in an open letter to the speaker asked
him to ensure that other principal officers of the House, suspected to
be involved in the alleged padding to also step down pending the outcome
of the investigation by the anti-corruption agency.
The letter which dated 29 July, 2016 was signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni.
It reads in parts, “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 outcome
of the investigation.
“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.”
No comments:
Post a Comment