SERAP urges probe of govs’ security votes

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and appropriate anticorruption agencies to investigate allegations of mismanagement of security votes by state governors since 1999.

SERAP stated this in a letter dated 6 July 2018 and signed by its deputy director Timothy Adewale and made available to our correspondent at the weekend.

The organization said the investigation would ensure that public funds are used properly.

It said if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, indicted former governors should face prosecution and serving ones to be prosecuted at the expiration of their tenures.

It also urged Buhari to instruct the AGF and anti-corruption agencies to publish the report of any such investigation, including names of governors that might have mismanaged public funds.

It described lack of transparency and accountability in the spending of security votes as the real cause of many of the security challenges confronting the nation.

“We request that you take this step within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel your government to act in the public interest.”

SERAP said each year, since the return to civilian rule in 1999, huge public funds are budgeted at all levels of government in Nigeria in the name of security votes.