Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against President Buhari and two others.
It cited failure to probe allegations that N106 billion of public funds are missing from 149 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). It also wants the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible and the recovery of any missing public funds.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit. Joined in the suit, as respondents, are Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
The suit followed allegations by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation in his 2018 yearly audited report that public funds totalling N105,662,350,077.46 are missing, misappropriated or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs.
In the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/903/2021) filed, last week, SERAP seeks an order of mandamus to direct and compel Buhari to promptly investigate the alleged missing N106 billion of public funds, ensure prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible and make full recovery of any missing public money.
In the suit, SERAP argued that recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s constitutional and international obligations and reduce the growing level of public debts.
According to the organisation, directing and compelling Buhari to ensure the investigation and prosecution of the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor General would be entirely consistent with the government’s own commitment to fight corruption, improve the integrity of MDAs and serve the public interest.
