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Obj, Yar’Adua, Jonathan must account for recovered loot, Court says

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Hon Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered successive administrations since the return of democracy in the country in 1999, to give full account of all recovered stolen funds, and what they were used for.

The court held, that the various administrations from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, through late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and former President Goodluck Jonathan “breached the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability for failing to disclose details about the spending of recovered stolen public funds, including on a dedicated website.”

Justice Idris was delivering judgment on the Freedom of Information suit no: FHC/IKJ/CS/248/2011 filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

Read also: Abacha loot: Okonjo-Iweala lied —SERAP

The court in the judgment delivered on Friday therefore ordered all living presidents since return democracy to the country to disclosed: information on the total amount of recovered stolen public assets by each government; the amount of recovered stolen public assets spent by each government as well as the objects of such spending and the projects on which such funds were spent.

Justice Idris dismissed all the objections raised by the Federal Government and upheld SERAP’s arguments, entering judgment in favour of SERAP against the Federal Government that:

A declaration is hereby made that the failure and/or refusal of the Respondents to individually and/or collectively disclose detailed information about the spending of recovered stolen public funds since the return of civil rule in 1999, and to publish widely such information, including on a dedicated website, amounts to a breach of the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability and violates Articles 9, 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.”

SERAP deputy executive director Olukayode Majekodunmi said: “This judgment confirms the persistent failure of successive governments starting from the Obasanjo government, to respect Nigerians’ right to a corruption-free society and to uphold constitutional and international commitments on transparency and accountability.

“The judgment is an important step towards reversing a culture of secrecy and corruption that has meant that high-ranking government officials continue to look after themselves at the expense of the well-being of majority of Nigerians, and development of the country.”

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