Civil Society Organizations led by Zero Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC) have accused the Federal Government of being lackadaisical in its approach to the anti-corruption war.At press briefing, the CSOs expressed worry over “the rising profile of official corruption in Nigeria under this administration.
They added that “the systematic system failure has its root in the manifestation of corruption at all level which undermines development and promotes insecurity and poverty in our country. In the first instance , incessant probes that do not yield public reports rob Nigerian citizens of their commonwealth and scarce resources. In spite of this, many well documented reports on corruption suggest there is laxity and lack of interest to deal with corruption in Nigeria”
After outlining a list of reports on cases of alleged corruption being swept under the carpet , the CSOs made a 12-point demand inter alia , “ that the Federal Government should set up an Independent panel of inquiry to investigate these allegations and prosecute those found guilty ;That the President Goodluck Jonathan should not only take note, but also take a stand and live by example on the fight against corruption;That government must take strong measures to prevent political corruption;(nd among others) That government must cut down waste and duplication of resources as contained in the current budget”
Read the full text of press briefing below:
A TEXT OF THE PRESS BRIEFING DEMANDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS REPORTS ON CORRUPTION AND INDEPENDENT PUBLIC JUDICIARY OF INQUIRY INTO THE FUEL SUBSIDY SCANDAL, THE MALABU OIL DEAL AND THE ALLEGATION OF $3 MILLION BRIBE
Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC) and other Civil Society Organizations working to promote transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption in Nigeria have been following closely the flagrant continuation of corrupt practices in Nigeria.
We are worried with the rising profile of official corruption in Nigeria under this administration. The systematic system failure has its root in the manifestation of corruption at all level which undermines development and promotes insecurity and poverty in our country.
In the first instance , incessant probes that do not yield public reports rob Nigerian citizens of their commonwealth and scarce resources. In spite of this, many well documented reports on corruption suggest there is laxity and lack of interest to deal with corruption in Nigeria .The following reports confirm our concerns:
1. The KPMG report in which the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was indicted for corrupt practices and short charging Nigerians,
2. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit report exposing 10 years of corruption in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
3. The uncalled for reconciliation of justice on the Malabu Oil Deal with juicy payment of $1,092,040,000 to the other party by Shell on the order of Mr. President, is clearly fraudulent, misappropriation of public fund and abuse of office
4. The probe of the Pension Fund Management by the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment, State and Local Government Administration
5. The case of corruption and money laundering trial against ex-Delta State Governor James Ibori in the UK for which he has reportedly pleaded guilty despite the acquittal granted him by a Nigerian court
6. The SEC probe and the alarming revelations of corruption in the capital market
7. The probe of the oil subsidy regime by an Ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives
8. The bribe scandal against Hon. Faruk Lawan, chairman of the House Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy.
9. The impunity by some state governors in their refusal to allow for local government area council elections
10. The non-prosecution of those indicted in the Haliburton LNG bribery scandal the same where the Americans involved had be prosecuted and charged in their country.
11. The integrity of the legislature has come under serious suspicion with the too frequent accusation of the probe committees members of bribery.
12. The revelation by Shell Petroleum Development Company that Nigeria has since 2009 lost $1.5 billion yearly to crude oil theft
13. The recent revelation that authorities in the USA have frozen the bank accounts of Nigeria missions in both New York and Washington D. C. on suspicion of being used for money laundering,
14. The perpetual injunction against prosecution granted by a superior count in favour of the former governor of Rivers State Dr. Peter Odili
The corruption war must be waged by more committed crop of public officers as well as by ordinary citizens. The EFCC, CCB, and ICPC alone can only be creating occasional drama, while avid corruption makes nonsense of every good policy of any agency, including the present administration.
We are aware that some people in their desperation to keep corruption in the fuel subsidy they want to divert the attention of the public from the real issues of large scale fraud in high places established in the subsidy probe report
OUR DEMAND:
1. That the Federal Government should set up an Independent panel of inquiry to investigate these allegations and prosecute those found guilty
2. That the President Goodluck Jonathan should not only take note, but also take a stand and live by example on the fight against corruption.
3. That government must take strong measures to prevent political corruption
4. That government must cut down waste and duplication of resources as contained in the current budget
5. That judiciary must raise (sic) up to restore its integrity and punish any judge who gives judgment that promotes or exonerates corrupt officials
6. That the legislature must carry out its constitutional role without fear, intimidation or favour and sanction any member involved in Legislative extortion and corruption.
7. That the Farouk Lawan-led panel on subsidy probe is valid and must not be undermined to free those looters.
8. That there must be effort to strengthen and support anti-corruption agencies
9. That the National Strategy on Anticorruption must be put to use
10. That the recent ban on private media covering Villa should be lifted.
11. The AGF initiate criminal proceedings in a court of law against all those that have so far been indicated of various corrupt practices
12. That the President should as a matter of urgency and in order to reassure the public of the commitment of his government to transparency and accountability release to the public his asset declaration and that of his deputy.
Signed:
Signed by:
1. Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
2. Publish What You Pay (PWYP).
3. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
4.Centre for Information Technology & Development (CITAD)
5. National Public Procurement Watch Platform (NPWP)
6. West African Civil Society Forum–Nigeria (WACSOF)
7.Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
8. Centre for the Development of Civil Society
9.African Centre for Media & Information Literacy
10. Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC)
11. Koyenum Immalah Foundation
12. Community Action for Popular Participation
13. Africa Center for Leadership, Strategic and Development
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14. Alliance for Credible Election {ACE}