<p>Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Professor Bolaji Owasanoye,
Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC) and Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, Acting Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), urging them to “jointly and urgently invite senators Godswill Akpabio
and Isa Misau for interrogation and further questioning over alleged diversion
of constituency projects.”</p>



<p>The organization said: “If the ICPC and EFCC consider the recovered hospital equipment and six tractors allegedly diverted for the personal use of the senators as relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, we urge you to promptly begin prosecution of the former senators.”</p>



<p>The ICPC had last week stated
that it recovered from the premises and farmland allegedly belonging to the
senators equipment meant for constituency projects in some local government
areas of Akwa Ibom and Bauchi states.</p>



<p>In a petition dated 2 August 2019
and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said:
“Inviting those suspected to be involved for interrogation and further
questioning, and for them to promptly face prosecution as appropriate, would
show that no one is above the law. It would be entirely consistent with the
exercise of your mandates to combat corruption, and with both the spirit and
the letter of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state
party.”</p>



<p>SERAP expressed: “concern
that ;these cases illustrate the growing allegations of massive corruption
in constituency projects and the importance of not only monitoring the projects
but thoroughly and effectively investigating reported cases of corruption and
promptly bringing suspected perpetrators to justice.”</p>



<p>According to the organization,
“When members of the National Assembly divert constituency projects for
personal use, the essence of such projects is defeated, and the integrity of
the mechanism compromised.”</p>



<p>The petition, copied to Professor
Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, read
in part: “Corruption in the provision of public services such as healthcare
affects and distorts the delivery of services and the right to the highest
attainable standard of health. As the recoveries by the ICPC have shown, cases
of corruption in constituency projects cause under-provision, divert public
resources, or simply limit access to public services or make them unavailable.”</p>



<p>“SERAP notes ;Section 15(5)
of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to the effect that ‘The State
shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.’ Similarly, the UN
Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party requires the
authorities to ensure effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and penalties
for corruption.”</p>



<p>“The allegations of diversion of
constituency projects by public officers have weakened public confidence in the
effectiveness of the mechanism as currently implemented to deliver essential
public services to those most in need. ;Unresolved allegations of
corruption in constituency projects would significantly contribute to impunity
for grand corruption in Nigeria and pose a serious threat to probity in public
life, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”</p>



<p>“Allegations of corruption in
constituency projects meant to be implemented for the common good and not the
personal gains of lawmakers, would ultimately undermine the principles of
representative and accountable government that acts in the public interest, and
equality and fairness.”</p>



<p>“Corruption in the health sector
or provision of support to farmers unfairly punishes the poor, and depresses
living standards and opportunities for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged
population.”</p>



<p>“Inviting those suspected to be
involved for interrogation and further questioning, and prosecuting them if the
recoveries by the ICPC indicate relevant and sufficient admissible evidence,
would show your agencies’ willingness to exert your authorities and act as a
deterrent against breaches of Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation and
international standards.”</p>



<p>“SERAP urges both the ICPC and
EFCC to jointly act to continue to ensure greater level of transparency and
accountability in the implementation of constituency projects and to name and
shame those suspected to be involved, if Nigeria is not to continue to witness
damaging allegations of diversion and other forms of corruption in the
implementation of constituency projects.”</p>



<p>“The ICPC reported that it
recovered hospital equipment meant for constituency project on the premises of
Mma Obot Foundation, which is allegedly owned by Godswill Akpabio, former
governor of ;<a>Akwa Ibom</a>. Among the recoveries are
dialysis machine, ECG monitor, oxygen regulator, anaesthetic machines,
generators and other hospital equipment meant for a cottage hospital in Ukana,
Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.”</p>



<p>“The ICPC also recovered six
tractors from a farm belonging to Isa Hamman Misau, a former senator who
represented Bauchi central. The tractors were meant for the use of farmers in
six local government areas of Bauchi Central Senatorial District. The items
were recovered during the ICPC’s ongoing tracking of constituency projects
around the country.”</p>



<p>“The tractors formed part of the
N430m contract for the supply of pumping machines and other agricultural
machinery to farmers in the senatorial district, which was awarded in 2015 by
the Federal Government as part of the senators’ constituency projects across
the nation. The sum of N76.6m was said to be paid for the tractors in December
2015, which were supplied in March 2016.”</p>

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