SERAP sues Tinubu over unexecuted N167bn projects

SERAP sues Tinubu over unexecuted N167bn projects

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued President Bola Tinubu over the failure to probe and prosecute contractors who allegedly collected over N167 billion from 31 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, but failed to execute any projects.

The Respondent joined the suit as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

SERAP had asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, to probe the allegations.

In the suit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Oluwakemi Agunbiade, the organization asked the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr Fagbemi to bring to justice, as appropriate, any companies and contractors who collected over N167 billion of public funds from 31 MDAs but failed to execute any projects.

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“To compel President Tinubu to direct Mr Olawale Edun to publish the specific names of the companies and contractors who collected over N167 billion from 31 MDAs but failed to execute any projects, as documented in the 2021 Audited Report by the Auditor General of the Federation.”

SERAP also asked the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr Olawale Edun to publish the details of the projects, such as the locations of the projects for which the contractors and companies collected N167bn, the amount collected by each contractor and company and the names of the shareholders.”

In the suit, SERAP maintained that “ the allegations of corruption involving many companies and contractors who collected over N167 billion from 31 MDAs have continued to impair, obstruct and undermine the access of poor Nigerians to public goods and services.

“Holding the companies and contractors who collected over N167bn from 31 MDAs but disappeared with the money would prevent and combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the spending of public funds.”

According to SERAP, “There is a legitimate public interest in not shielding or allowing ingrained wrongdoing by companies and contractors to go unpunished.

 

SERAP sues Tinubu over unexecuted N167bn projects