Investigate ‘missing’ N57bn in Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, other funds’, SERAP tells Tinubu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to urgently investigate allegations that over N57 billion of public funds went missing, was diverted, or stolen from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021 alone.

In its statement, SERAP also highlighted reports of hundreds of billions of naira reportedly missing from other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

These alarming revelations were detailed in the 2021 audited report released by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation last week.

SERAP emphasized that those responsible for the missing funds should face prosecution, provided there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing funds should be fully recovered and returned to the national treasury.

Furthermore, SERAP urged the President to use any recovered stolen funds to help address the deficit in the 2025 budget and to impose a moratorium on borrowing to alleviate Nigeria’s growing debt crisis.

In a letter dated November 23, 2024, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization condemned the alleged misappropriation, stating that it amounts to “stealing from the poor.” SERAP argued that there is a strong public interest in ensuring accountability for these grave accusations.

The letter outlined several specific allegations, including:

• Over N54 billion (N54,630,000,000.00) intended for stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees, which was not paid to the intended beneficiaries.
• Over N2.6 billion (N2,617,090,786.00) meant for the Home Grown School Feeding Programme during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was allegedly misappropriated to contractors for distributing palliatives in certain states, without any evidence of execution.
• Over N78 million (N78,373,909.74) spent on a survey of the Ministry’s COVID-19 response, without approval or documentation.
• N39.5 million (N39,500,000.00) in personal donations to different individuals, which was allegedly reimbursed directly to the Minister.
• N400 million (N400,000,000.00) for stipends to independent monitors, which was unaccounted for.
• Over N287 million (N287,628,300.00) paid to contractors without proper documentation or justification.

These allegations are in addition to the previously reported N729 billion involved in a court judgment by Justice Deinde Dipeolu.

SERAP has given the government a seven-day deadline to respond to the demands, warning that if no action is taken, it will pursue legal measures to ensure accountability and justice.

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The group also called for the investigation and prosecution of those suspected of diverting or misappropriating public funds.

SERAP stressed that the recovery of these funds and the prosecution of those involved would demonstrate the government’s commitment to its fight against corruption, which is a key component of President Tinubu’s administration.

The organization also pointed to the country’s growing national debt, which recently rose from ₦97.34 trillion to ₦121.67 trillion between December 2023 and March 2024.

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Given these figures, SERAP suggested that any recovered funds should be used to address the 2025 budget deficit, and proposed a temporary halt on further borrowing to give the country fiscal space.

The letter also reminded President Tinubu of Nigeria’s constitutional obligations and international anti-corruption commitments, urging him to ensure that any acts of grand corruption are met with “effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions.”

Finally, SERAP reiterated that the wealth of the country should be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, stressing that corruption in the MDAs must be addressed to reduce the country’s debt burden and promote social justice for all citizens.