<p>Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has welcomed “the reported probe by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of the government of former
president Olusegun Obasanjo’s $16 billion power project as an opportunity for
the anti-graft agency to show that former heads of state and other high-ranking
public officials are not immune from investigation and prosecution for
allegations of grand corruption in Nigeria.”</p>



<p>The organization said: “This probe is something, which SERAP has consistently
called for. ;Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the
opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for
corruption in the electricity sector&#8211;staying in darkness, but still made to
pay crazy electricity bills.”</p>



<p>According to reports, the EFCC has begun the probe of the $16
billion power project of the administration of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo. While some put the exact cost of the project at $16 billion others
say it is $13.8 billion. Key contractors and about 18 top public officers
allegedly involved in the power project scam during the Obasanjo
administration, and those of former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck
Jonathan, may also be arrested.</p>



<p>In a statement by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, made available to OpenLife, the organization said: “The probe is timely, especially coming at a time of citizens’ frustrations at persistent allegations of corruption and the impacts on their human rights. Investigating allegations of grand corruption and prosecuting former heads of state and other high-ranking officials where such allegations show relevant and sufficient admissible evidence would address the grave travesty that has for many years occurred in the power sector.”</p>



<p>The organization also said: “The EFCC should urgently invite
anyone suspected to be involved for questioning. The agency should also expand
the probe to cover the alleged squandering of a total of N11 trillion in the
power sector between 1999 and 2015, and the unresolved case of the reported
missing $12.4 billion oil windfall, allegedly spent between 1988 and 1993 by
the government of former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida.”</p>



<p>The
statement read in part: “The EFCC has the full support of Nigerians in its
efforts to hold high-ranking public officials to account for grand corruption,
and if consistently, fairly and diligently pursued, this probe would contribute
to ending impunity for corruption, and to mobilizing and encouraging youth
civic engagement in the anti-graft fight in the country. SERAP stands ready to
work with the EFCC in pursuing all allegations of grand corruption.”</p>



<p>“SERAP
notes that former presidents have routinely faced corruption charges in
countries like Iceland, Kyrgyzstan, Brazil, Montenegro, South Korea, Pakistan,
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Slovakia, Peru, and Mauritius, and the probe by the
EFCC would mean this list would grow even further to include Nigeria.”</p>



<p>“Impunity
for grand corruption will continue as long as high-ranking public officials go
largely unpunished for their alleged crimes. It is by pursuing these
allegations and taking the evidence before the court that the truth will be
revealed and justice best served. Addressing impunity in the power sector
should be total. This would help to further public perception of fairness and
thoroughness.”</p>



<p>“Lack
of regular electricity supply in the country had occasioned many other
problems, including lack of access to potable water. The failure by successive
governments to tell Nigerians the truth about allegations of corruption in the
power sector amounts to a failure to ensure that electricity services are
progressively made available, on the basis of equality and non-discrimination.”</p>



<p>“In
November 2016, SERAP petitioned the former Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Walter ;<a>Onnoghen</a>, urging him to probe the
alleged spending of the $16 billion. In April 2017, SERAP sent President
Muhammadu Buhari an open letter, advising him to take allegations of corruption
in the power sector to the international criminal courts to ensure that justice
is served.”</p>



<p>“SERAP
has also called on Mr Buhari to refer the alleged $16 billion spending on
electricity between 1999 and 2007 to the EFCC. Mr Buhari subsequently raised
questions over the issues, saying that ‘one of the former Heads of State was bragging
that he spent more than 15 billion American dollars, not naira, on power. Where
is the power? Where is the power?’”</p>



<p>“In
August 2017, SERAP published a report, ;<em>‘From Darkness to Darkness: How
Nigerians are Paying the Price for Corruption in the Electricity Sector’</em>, ;which
revealed how over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply was
allegedly squandered under the governments of former presidents Olusegun
Obasanjo, ;Umaru Musa ;<em>Yar</em>&#8216;<em>Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.”</em></p>



<p>The
report reads: “The Obasanjo’s administration spent $10 billion on NIPP with no
results in terms of increase in power generation. $13.278,937,409.94 was
expended on the power sector in eight years while unfunded commitments amounted
to $12 billion.”</p>



<p>“The
Federal Government then budgeted a whopping N16 billion for the various reforms
under Liyel Imoke (2003 to 2007) which went down the drains as it failed to
generate the needed amount of electricity or meet the set goals. Imoke was
alleged to have personally collected the sum of $7.8 million for the execution
of the contract for the construction of the Jos-Yola Transmission Line, which
was never executed. There were documented/reported allegations of corruption
against Imoke that fizzled-out shortly thereafter.”</p>

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