SERAP to FG: Find out the truth about missing $12.4bn oil windfall

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to Mr Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, asking him to “use your good offices as a defender of public interest, and exercise your powers under Section 174(1) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, and Sections 104—106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to re-open the unresolved case of missing $12.4 billion oil windfall.”

The organisation asked Malami to “establish the truth about what exactly happened to the public funds reportedly spent between 1988 and 1993 by the government of former military president, General Ibrahim  Babangida.”

The letter, dated August 19, 2016 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, urged Malami to “work diligently and effectively to find and publish widely the Pius Okigbo panel report, as well as bring to justice anyone suspected of corruption and mismanagement of the colossal public funds.”

The letter read in part: “SERAP has for many years sought explanations and official release of the Okigbo panel report, which the government voluntarily established, but successive governments have blocked every chance to make this happen, even claiming that the report of the panel could not be found. SERAP’s request is entirely consistent with established legal principle that in matters relating to crimes, including corruption, time does not run against the state.”