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Probe IBB over missing $12.4bn oil windfall, SERAP writes Malami

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to revisit the case of the missing $12.4bn oil windfall.

The group, which said that former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida must be prosecuted over the missing money, insisted that the money was spent during his administration between 1988 and 1993.

Calling on the AGF to reopen the case, SERAP asked him to use his office and power under Section 174(1) of the Constitution and sections 104-106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to establish the truth about what happened to the money and to prosecute anyone found culpable.

The group threw the challenge in an open letter it addressed to Malami on Sunday. The letter was signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

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The letter read: “SERAP, has for many years, sought explanation and official release of the Pius Okigbo panel report, which the government voluntarily established. But successive administrations blocked every chance to officially release the Okigbo Report with some even claiming that the report could not be found.

“SERAP’s request is entirely consistent with the established legal principle that in matters relating to crimes, including corruption, time does not run against the state.

“Reopening the case would also send a clear message that cases of high-level official corruption would not go unpunished no matter how long it takes and that suspected perpetrators would be held to account, no matter who is involved.

“SERAP also believes that reopening the unresolved case of missing $12.4bn oil windfall would serve as a litmus test for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari often repeated commitments to transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption in the country.

“Full accountability for the missing public funds would contribute to ending impunity of high-ranking public officials for large-scale corruption and provide effective remedies to victims of corruption”, the group said.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews

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