The World Bank looks set to release more information on the spending of recovered loot from the late General Sani Abacha as “it has referred portion of appeal by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to the Bank Archives Unit for processing for public access.”
This development was disclosed today in a statement by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni. This followed the appeal the organisation lodged with the Bank on 5 February 2016 on the ground that the Bank’s decision on its initial request did not reveal “important portions of the information requested on how Abacha loot was spent.”
According to Mumuni, the Bank Access to Information Committee (AIC) in its Decision on appeal issued in Case number AI3982-A dated 29 April 2016, and sent to SERAP held that although the appeal by the organisation was not filed within 60 days of the Bank’s decision as required by its Access to Information Policy, SERAP appeal nonetheless “contains a request for additional information, not previously submitted by the requester, and which the Bank has neither considered nor denied. Accordingly, the AIC refers back to the Archives Unit this portion of the appeal for processing for public access.”
SERAP statement reads in part: “The portion of the appeal which the Bank has now referred to its Archives Unit for public access include information on: evidence and list of the 23 projects allegedly completed with recovered Abacha loot, and whether the 23 projects where actually completed; and what became of the 2 abandoned projects; evidence and location of the 8 health centers built with recovered Abacha loot reviewed by the World Bank; and evidence and location of the 18 power projects confirmed by the World Bank.”
“Other aspects of the spending of Abacha loot the Bank referred to its Archives Unit for processing for public access are: information on: how the $50mn Abacha loot received before 2005 kept in the special account was spent; evidence and location of schools which benefited from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in the amount of NGN24.25bn; and evidence and location of the 13 road projects completed with the recovered Abacha loot, including the names of the 3 of the largest road and bridge projects in each geo-political zone.”
Reacting to the Bank’s appeal decision, Adetokunbo Mumuni said, “It’s trite law that no procedural requirements should ever be made a tool to deny justice or perpetuate injustice. SERAP therefore welcomes the decision by the World Bank not to allow technicalities (regarding its requirement of 60 days within which to file an appeal to it) stand in the way of substantial justice, and truth on the spending of recovered Abacha loot as to do otherwise would have amounted to a miscarriage of justice for millions of Nigerians who are victims of corruption.”
“We now hope that the Bank Archives Unit will move swiftly to allow public access to the information requested, as directed by the Access to Information Committee. Any further delay in disclosing the information will delay justice to the Nigerian people. And justice delayed is justice denied.”
“In this respect, SERAP calls on Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala former Finance Minister who coordinated the Bank’s report to assist the Archives Unit in its task for speedy disclosure of evidence and locations of projects on which recovered Abacha loot was spent.”
“We also seize this opportunity to call on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately obey the judgment by Honourable Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos which ordered publication of the spending of recovered stolen funds by the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is unperturbed by SERAP’s fake call to assist in the Abacha’s loot. If they knew she was this resourceful, why cook up fake stories to demean her capabilities. For all I know, this is all a part of another failed plan to ignite trouble.
SERAP’s motivation is not only about public interest, but their real goal is to use every means to implicate Okonjo-Iweala and perhaps, gain some popularity for themselves in the process. One group that appears to have mastered this art is so-called Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), else, what has Okonjo-Iweala got to do with Abacha’s loot?
With or without responding to SERAP’s suspicious call, Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is offering her expertise to companies across the globe. With the same level of hard-work and diligence with which she served Nigeria while she was the coordinating minister, she would do much more in the companies she is presently chairing.
The SERAP that was never satisfied with Madam Okonjo-Iweala’s delivery while she was the
coordinating minister of the economy has suddenly swallowed their pride and desperately needs her to disclose the necessary information to aid the release of Abacha’s loot. In the first place, what gave them the impression that Madam Okonjo-Iweala regard their plea, talk-less of leave her precious job of rescuing children from deadly diseases?
I always know that Madam Iweala will always be useful and needed in Nigerian Government. That woman is TOO MUCH.. TOO LOADED! So much respect to that woman. That woman is a heavy-weight record-breaker! Haters of Iweala, go and bath Three Times on the Electricity Power Transformer ! Dr Iweala, you are much loved by Nigerians who are not brainwashed!
Dr Okonjo Iweala so far is the most influential public servant this country has ever had. Even when she has left her post as the finance minister, she is still being called back to help or assist in a task. People should take note of this before they start saying what is not, next time. Dr Iweala’s legacy lives on.
Why call on Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when she no longer occupies that seat? They can as well ask her to come back as the Finance Minister. I think the present government still needs her knowledge and expertise, possibly an advisory or consulting role.
Beautiful news! Hope the World Bank will not back track this time and will send the full information. Madam Okonjo-Iweala should also cooperate with the archives unit as requested by SERAP. Well done SERAP!
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Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is unperturbed by SERAP’s fake call to assist in the Abacha’s loot. If they knew she was this resourceful, why cook up fake stories to demean her capabilities. For all I know, this is all a part of another failed plan to ignite trouble.
SERAP’s motivation is not only about public interest, but their real goal is to use every means to implicate Okonjo-Iweala and perhaps, gain some popularity for themselves in the process. One group that appears to have mastered this art is so-called Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), else, what has Okonjo-Iweala got to do with Abacha’s loot?
With or without responding to SERAP’s suspicious call, Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is offering her expertise to companies across the globe. With the same level of hard-work and diligence with which she served Nigeria while she was the coordinating minister, she would do much more in the companies she is presently chairing.
The SERAP that was never satisfied with Madam Okonjo-Iweala’s delivery while she was the
coordinating minister of the economy has suddenly swallowed their pride and desperately needs her to disclose the necessary information to aid the release of Abacha’s loot. In the first place, what gave them the impression that Madam Okonjo-Iweala regard their plea, talk-less of leave her precious job of rescuing children from deadly diseases?
Dr Iweala will decide if she would assist the World Bank or not. SERAP has no right to make unfounded demands from the world renowned economist.
I always know that Madam Iweala will always be useful and needed in Nigerian Government. That woman is TOO MUCH.. TOO LOADED! So much respect to that woman. That woman is a heavy-weight record-breaker! Haters of Iweala, go and bath Three Times on the Electricity Power Transformer ! Dr Iweala, you are much loved by Nigerians who are not brainwashed!
Dr Okonjo Iweala so far is the most influential public servant this country has ever had. Even when she has left her post as the finance minister, she is still being called back to help or assist in a task. People should take note of this before they start saying what is not, next time. Dr Iweala’s legacy lives on.
Why call on Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when she no longer occupies that seat? They can as well ask her to come back as the Finance Minister. I think the present government still needs her knowledge and expertise, possibly an advisory or consulting role.
Beautiful news! Hope the World Bank will not back track this time and will send the full information. Madam Okonjo-Iweala should also cooperate with the archives unit as requested by SERAP. Well done SERAP!