By Abiola Olawale
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately publish the names of individuals alleged to be connected to the disappearance of over N167 billion meant for the execution of projects for 31 ministries, departments and agencies.
The SERAP called on Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, to disclose the specific names of the companies and contractors who collected over N167 billion.
According to SERAP, the demand is necessary following damning revelations documented in the recently released 2021 audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
This was contained in a letter dated 30 November 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
The organisation said: “Publishing the names will make it hard for companies and contractors to get away with complicity in grand corruption.”
SERAP said: “The details to be published should include the names of shareholders and others that might have any ownership interests in the companies that collected over N167 billion from 31 MDAs but disappeared with the money without executing any projects.”
SERAP urged him “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly bring to justice, as appropriate, any companies and contractors who collected the over N167 billion of public funds but failed to execute any projects.”
SERAP also urged him “to name and shame the companies and contractors and to ensure the recovery of the over N167 billion reportedly collected by them for projects not executed. The recovered money should be fully remitted to the treasury.”
