National Grid: SERAP Sues Buhari over ‘Missing N11trn Electricity Fund’






National Grid: SERAP Sues Buhari over ‘Missing N11trn Electricity Fund’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari “over his failure to probe allegations that over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply since 1999 may have been stolen, mismanaged or diverted into private pockets.”




ADVERTISEMENT

Nigerian cities have repeatedly been plunged into darkness as the electricity grid has reportedly collapsed at least three times in 5 months, and 130 times in 7 years. According to the World Bank, epileptic power supply costs businesses in Nigeria about $29 billion yearly.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1119/2022 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to investigate how over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply has been allegedly squandered by governments since 1999.”
ADVERTISEMENT

SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to compel President Buhari to ensure the prosecution of anyone suspected to be responsible for the missing electricity fund, as appropriate, and to ensure the tracing and full recovery of any missing public funds.”
ADVERTISEMENT
SERAP is arguing that, “It is in the public interest to ensure justice and accountability for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the electricity sector, which has resulted in the failure of governments to solve Nigeria’s perennial power problem.”
ADVERTISEMENT

According to SERAP, “The staggering amounts of public funds alleged to have been stolen over the years in the sector have had catastrophic effects on the lives of millions of Nigerians, akin to crimes against humanity against the Nigerian people.”
ADVERTISEMENT
SERAP is arguing that, “The failure to trace, find and recover the missing electricity fund is antithetical to the public interest, the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international obligations.”
ADVERTISEMENT

SERAP is also arguing that, “Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector--staying in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.”
ADVERTISEMENT

SERAP is also arguing that, “Investigating the allegations of missing N11 trillion electricity funds, prosecuting suspected perpetrators and recovering any missing public funds would end a culture of impunity. It would also address persistent collapse of the electricity grid, and improve access to and affordability of electricity in the country.” ADVERTISEMENT
SERAP is also arguing that, “Corruption in the electricity sector and the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support the operations of DISCOS have resulted in regular blackouts, electricity grid collapse, and unlawful hike in electricity tariffs.”

sgt new updateCLICK TO EXPLORE THE LATEST CONTENTS FROM SGT, ALSO SCROLL DOWN BELOW TO SEE SGT POPULAR POST AFTER CONTENTS


SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari to refer to the International Criminal Court all unimplemented reports of corruption in the electricity sector gathering dust on the shelves, and to arrest and surrender those named in the reports to the court for prosecution.”
ADVERTISEMENT

Joined in the suit as Respondent is Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected.”
ADVERTISEMENT

“Corruption in the electricity sector has also continued to disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors of the population who cannot readily afford expensive generators in order to have a reliable power supply.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“The failure of successive governments and high-ranking government officials to prevent corruption in the electricity sector and to bring suspected perpetrators to justice is the primary cause of the persistent crisis in the electricity sector, including the exploitation of electricity consumers, and collapse of the electricity grid.”

“The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has adjudged the failure of the States to provide basic services such as electricity as violating the right to health.”

“Citizens are frustrated at persistent allegations of corruption in the sector, and the impacts on their human rights. Prosecuting perpetrators would address the grave travesty that has for many years occurred in the power sector.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“Impunity for corruption in the electricity sector has for many years forced ordinary Nigerians to stay in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills.”

“Successive governments have failed to increase power generation and provide Nigerians with regular and uninterrupted electricity supply, with many electricity contracts shrouded in secrecy, and trillions of Naira going down the drain.”

“Impunity for corruption in the electricity sector will continue as long as high-ranking public officials go largely unpunished for their alleged crimes.”

“The Buhari administration has legal obligations under Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, and article 26 of the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure effective prosecution of allegations of corruption.”

“Alleged corruption and mismanagement in the electricity sector and the repeated collapse of the electricity grid have continued to deprive Nigerians of economic opportunities, subjecting them to cruel and degrading treatment.”
ADVERTISEMENT

“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’”

“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

“The failure by successive governments to tell Nigerians the truth about allegations of corruption in the power sector amounts to a failure to ensure that electricity services are progressively made available, on the basis of equality and non-discrimination.”

“The details of the missing N11 trillion electricity funds are contained in a SERAP report titled: From Darkness to Darkness: How Nigerians are paying the Price for Corruption in the Electricity Sector.”

“According to the report, the total estimated financial loss to Nigeria from corruption in the electricity sector starting from the return to democracy in 1999 to date is over N11 trillion. This represents public funds, private equity and social investment (or divestments) in the power sector.”

“It is estimated that the loss may reach over N20 trillion in the next decade given the rate of Government investment and funding in the power sector amidst dwindling fortune and recurrent revenue shortfalls.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
AD






Copyright SMACIN GRACEFULL TEAM.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content published on SGT website, should not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from SGT.
Contact us @:
sgt4succsess@gmail.com | follow SGT blog post to get automatic updates when new contents are published here

click the icon @ the top left of your screen to follow SGT from the menu page.
Like and follow SGT fans page on facebook and on other social media platforms above this site
Kindly share SGT contents / post to your social media walls as you keep following SGT for the latest and exclusive contents right here.

You can also join SGT community here


for a wonderfull communicating experience as one big happy family with loads of goodies and excitment, where we all collaborate together in group charts, live video conference sessions of up to 48 poeple at once and other interesting features available.


ADVERTISMENT



SGT TECH
YOU CAN ALSO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SGT POPULAR POST BELOW AFTER THE FORUM SECTION


Welcome to SGT FORUM SECTION!
Please keep conversations in the forum courteous and on-topic, to foster productive and respectful conversations.

Please Take note of the following as you comment and communicate with others in the forum:



. Severe Toxicity
. Insult of any kind
. Profanity
. Identity attack
. Threat
. External links
. Religious argument
. Sexually explicit
will not be allowed in the forum, as moderators are on always to ensure a smooth and respectfull conversation for all in the forum.