As the National Assembly panel investigating alleged financial impropriety of NDDC enters the third week on Monday,,a group,Socio -Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Buhari 14 days within which he should sack the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, and set up a panel to probe allegations of corruption in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.
SERAP warned that failure of the President to act would cause it to institute legal proceedings to force his government to act.
The rights group in a letter by its deputy director,Kolawole Oluwadare, demanded that witnesses and whistleblowers be protected and the findings of the investigation should be made public.
It said ” Where there is relevant admissable evidence, suspected perpetrators should be handed over to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for prosecution”.
” A special panel to probe allegations of corruption in the NDDC,and that is able to work closely with anti-corruption agencies, would protect the integrity of the forensic audit, remove the possibility of obstruction of Justice, and interference in the process by those suspected to be involved in alleged corruption in the NDDC”.
It noted that the investigation in the National Assembly has been controversial,and has resulted in a “dirty fight”with the Commission
According to SERAP, ,”Any perception of politicisation and bias in the investigation of the corruption allegations in the NDDC would undermine public trust in the process,and ultimately, the public interest and good government,as well as justice for the victims of corruption in the Niger Delta.
“A decisive action is needed by you and your government to stop the corruption in the NDDC, ensure that anyone suspected to be responsible is brought to justice, and to fully recover stolen, mismanaged or misappropriated public funds”.
