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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
has urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr
Abubakar Malami SAN; the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu, and Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye to:
“revisit and fast-track prosecution of all cases of corruption in the
electricity sector and ensure effective recovery of stolen public funds.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This was stated today at the Policy Dialogue on Promoting
Transparency and Accountability in the Judiciary, Education and Electricity
sectors, organized by SERAP, in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation,
USA.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The cases listed to be revisited include “the case of the
Ramsome Owan-led Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the
investigation of Mr. ;Goodknows ;Ighali
on the alleged diversion of funds of workers of the defunct Power Holding
Company of Nigeria.” ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">SERAP is also urging “the ICPC to make public the status
of the investigation and recommendations for prosecution (if any) on the Abuja
Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) Recruitment Scandal/Jumbo Pay Scandal
given the ;fact ;that
the Nigerian Government and public have 40% ;stakes ;in the AEDC. The EFCC should revisit the ;Elemelu ;report on the Rural
Electrification scandal and ensure that all suspected perpetrators are brought
to justice.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to SERAP, “The EFCC and ICPC should scrutinize,
prioritize and conclude pending investigations of all power sector-related
cases and make report public (where applicable), as well as bring to justice
suspected perpetrators. ;The EFCC and ICPC ;should ;probe ;Metering
and billing fraud and corruption. Most consumers are unhappy with their billing
methodology and feel short-changed by the operators.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the 15-Point Programme for Promoting Transparency and
Accountability in the Judiciary, Education and Electricity sectors in Nigeria
launched at the Policy Dialogue, SERAP is also asking Mr Malami to: “request
the report of the House of Representative Committee that probed government
spending in the power sector from 2000 to 2007, make the report public and
ensure appropriate legal action against anyone suspected to be involved in
corruption.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Policy Dialogue, which discussed how to effectively
implement SERAP’s core reports on corruption in the judiciary, education and
electricity sectors was attended by the civil society, the media, ministries,
departments and agencies, among others.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Among those in attendance were: Mr Ahmed Rufai Zakari,
Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari; Nikki Umeh, Special Adviser to
Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo; and Fasina Olakunle, representative of
the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Others included Dr Felix.O Okpe representing Deputy
Senate President; Ashley Emenike, representing the Senate Committee on
Corruption; Biodun Aikomo, Special Adviser to the Attorney General of the
Federation; and Mr Aaron Artimas Senior Special Adviser to the Minister of
Power.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">All the participants at the Policy Dialogue agreed to
work to ensure the effective implementation of the 15-Point Programme.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">SERAP’s 15-Point Programme read, in part: ;“For
proper metering, electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) must take a proper
and comprehensive collation of all power consumers in their jurisdictions
before issuing new meters under direct purchases or Credited Advanced Payment
for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) systems.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“DISCOS must urgently undertake initiatives to re-number
and re-classify all electricity consumers in Nigeria for the purpose of issuing
new meters. The NERC must shoulder the responsibility on this aspect.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Attorney General should take measures to obtain,
widely publish and act on the report of the Elumelu House Probe Committee which
had ;accused 21 persons and 36 companies of subversion of government policy
on due process which gave rise ;to
extension ;of contract beyond its original size, inflation of costs,
duplication of contract awards, other kinds of corruption, and general lack of
performance.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Nigerian government and the ;NERC ;should
adopt and publish citizens’ charters in the electricity sector, spelling out
the rights and responsibilities of consumers and conferring on them the right
to receive good and quality service from power service providers; for
independent monitoring and public participation in policy formulation and
decision-making.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Nigerian Federal Government, the National Assembly,
State Governments, and the judiciary must work with anti-corruption
institutions like the EFCC and the ICPC, CSOs and donor agencies to improve and
enhance the capacity of institutions and actors within the justice to promote
justice, transparency and good governance.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The necessary actions required here involve
amending ; ;sections 26(2) and 60(3) of the ICPC Act to confer
jurisdiction on Magistrate Courts, High Courts ;of States ;and the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory, and the Federal High to determine corruption cases; amending the
ICPC Act and EFCC Act to criminalize illicit wealth or unjust enrichment in
line with contemporary international standards like the UN Convention against Corruption
to which Nigeria is a state party.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Money appropriated in budgets for anti-corruption
agencies and initiatives should be released as and when due; the
Attorney-General should work closely with the ICPC to begin the commencement of
prosecution of all ex-governors whose cases have been investigated to
completion; the Attorney-General should, in collaboration with the civil
society, establish a system for ;monitoring
conduct ;of high profile corruption cases; the inauguration of a
committee to monitor corruption cases in courts.”</p>



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