President Muhammadu Buhari should probe allegations of payment of N17 billion to the National Assembly as ‘election expenses’ of its members to pass the 2015 budget, according to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP).
Former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had made the allegation recently and SERAP has called on Buhari to order the right agencies to investigate the claims.
This was revealed in a letter by SERAP over the weekend where it vowed to take legal action against Buhari if the claims is not investigated.
“The allegation of budgeting N17 billion as election expenses of lawmakers suggests a fundamental breach of article 15 of the UN Convention against Corruption, which Nigeria has ratified,” SERAP added.
“Using public funds as election expenses of lawmakers is contrary to the convention, which prohibits bribery and requires the authorities to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.
“The illicit or improper nature of the election expenses is buttressed by the fact that the election of any lawmaker is a ‘benefit’ to him/her and not a matter of public interest or legitimate public spending, and implicitly amount to an abuse of legislative powers for private gain.
“Allowing lawmakers to enjoy illicit benefits is an arbitrary or unjust exercise of executive functions. Facilitating N17 billion as election expenses has undercut access of millions of Nigerians to public services, as the funds could have been legitimately spent on services such as health, education, electricity supply or public transportation that those with few resources are dependent upon.
“The required elements of the offence of bribery are those of promising, offering or giving something to a public official, such as the alleged N17 billion for election expenses of lawmakers.
“The allegation that the members of the executive allowed the National Assembly to have their way on the N17 billion also suggests giving the lawmakers an undue advantage to get the 2015 budget passed. The undue advantage or bribe also seemed linked to the official duties of lawmakers to induce the passing of the budget.
“SERAP notes that the alleged N17 billion bribe has increased attention to the growing lack of transparency and accountability of the National Assembly, and the corresponding loss of trust and faith by Nigerians in the budgeting process and disillusionment in their lawmakers.”
SERAP added that probing the allegations would restore confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
