The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded a copy of the agreement signed between the Nigerian and US governments on the planned return of over $23 million ostensibly looted by late dictator, General Sani Abacha.
It will be recalled that last week, Nigeria and the United States reached an agreement on the return of over $23 million of the Abacha loot.
SERAP said in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, that the country’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami should be directed to provide to the organization with a copy of the agreement the Federal Government recently signed with the United States for the repatriation of $23 million stolen by late General Sani Abacha.
According to the letter dated August 27, 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Mr. Kolawole Oluwadare, the group said its demand was based on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, the 1999 Constitution as well as some international obligations Nigeria should follow.
“By the combined reading of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s international obligations, there are transparency obligations imposed on your government to widely publish the agreement on the $23 million Abacha loot,” SERAP said in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
It noted that the Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities and argued that the current administration has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any repatriated stolen funds are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.
The organization also requested President Buhari to provide details of the transparency and accountability mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the repatriated funds are not mismanaged, diverted, or re-stolen.
The letter also noted the Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee everyone the right to information, including to a copy of the agreement on the repatriated $23 million Abacha loot.
GIK/APA