SERAP wants Saraki, other exgovs sued over emoluments

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, urging him to use his “good offi ces as a defender of public interest, and exercise your powers under Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), to urgently institute appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws permitting former governors, who are now senators and ministers to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offi ces.”

Th e organisation also asked Malami to “seek full recovery of over N40 billion of public funds that have so far been received from those involved; and to begin to take these steps within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel the discharge of constitutional duty and full compliance with Nigeria’s international anticorruption obligations and commitments.”

In the letter dated July 14 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “Public interest is not well served when government offi cials such as former governors, deputies supplement their emoluments in their current positions with life pensions and emoluments drawn from their states’ meagre resources, and thereby prioritising their private or personal interests over and above the greatest happiness of the greatest number.” Th e letter read in part: “SERAP considers double emoluments for serving public offi cials unlawful, as the laws granting those benefi ts take governance away from the arena of public interest, and creates the impression that former governors acted contrary to the best interests of the general public. Double emoluments and large severance benefi ts for former governors now serving public offi cials constitute a blatant betrayal of public trust.

” “According to our information, those who currently receive double emoluments and large severance benefi ts from their states include: Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara); Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Th eodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafi agi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), and Jonah Jang (Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); Ms Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti); Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe (Abia); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chris Ngige (Anambra); and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).”’

Leave a Reply