Anti-corruption advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to prosecute Senator Godswill Akpabio for alleged diversion of hospital equipment awarded under constituency projects.
The group equally called for the prosecution of Senator Isa Misau, from whom the ICPC recovered six tractors, awarded under constituency projects.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oludare, urged the ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, to “jointly and urgently invite senators Godswill Akpabio and Isa Misau for interrogation and further questioning over alleged diversion of constituency projects.”
“If the ICPC and the EFCC consider the recovered hospital equipment and six tractors allegedly diverted for the personal use of the senators as relevant and sufficiently admissible evidence, we urge you to promptly begin prosecution of the former senators.
“Inviting those suspected to be involved for interrogation and further questioning, and for them to promptly face prosecution as appropriate, would show that no one is above the law. It would be entirely consistent with the exercise of your mandates to combat corruption, and with both the spirit and the letter of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.
“The allegations of diversion of constituency projects by public officers have weakened public confidence in the effectiveness of the mechanism as currently implemented to deliver essential public services to those most in need. Unresolved allegations of corruption in constituency projects would significantly contribute to impunity for grand corruption in Nigeria and pose a serious threat to probity in public life, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
“Allegations of corruption in constituency projects meant to be implemented for the common good and not the personal gains of lawmakers would ultimately undermine the principles of representative and accountable government that acts in the public interest, and equality and fairness,” SERAP said.
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