Following the corruption allegation and counter-allegation in the Niger-delta Development Company (NDDC) that has become the order of the day in the last two weeks, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to with an immediate effect set up a presidential probing panel to unravel the truth.
SERAP also demands that Buhari should sack, Godswill Akpabio, the Niger Delta Minister, and all those that their names were dragged into the corruption. The group threatened that failure by President Buhari to act would compel them to institute legal action against the government that would compel his government to act accordingly.
The group further called on the government to give more protection to witness and whistle-blowers and also the finding of the investigation to be made public.
The statement partly reads, “Where there is relevant admissible evidence, suspected perpetrators should be handed over to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for prosecution.”Also contained in the letter signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group said it wants to see development and prosperity in the Niger Delta and demand that President Buhari champion the whole process to get to the bottom of the whole investigation.
It said, “A special panel to probe allegations of corruption in the NDDC, and that is able to work closely with anti-corruption agencies, would protect the integrity of the forensic audit, and remove the possibility of obstruction of justice, and interference in the process by those suspected to be involved in alleged corruption in the NDDC.”
The group noted that the investigation initiated by the National Assembly has been messed up and has become controversial, and has also become a dirty fight with the agency instead of investigation.
According to SERAP, “Any perception of politicization and bias in the investigation of the corruption allegations in the NDDC would undermine public trust in the process, and ultimately, the public interest and good government, as well as justice for the victims of corruption in the Niger Delta.“
Decisive action is needed by you and your government to stop the corruption in the NDDC, ensure that anyone suspected to be responsible is brought to justice, and to fully recover stolen, mismanaged or misappropriated public funds.”
Mr. President was called upon by the group to stand his ground until the investigation is brought to a logical conclusion and ensure he is willing to invoke any law on whoever ox is gored.
Meanwhile, they called on President Buhari to caution the security agencies to stop harassing Mrs. Joy Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director of NDDC, or any other witness and whistleblowers.
According to the group, suspected perpetrators would escape justice if witness and whistleblowers are lest to be harassed or threatened, they may eventually be cowed into keeping mute and ultimately would frustrate the investigation.
