SERAP asks Buhari to resolve doubts over real identities of those behind Ikoyi $45m haul

In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding
the ownership of the N13bn ($43.4m, N23m
and £27,000) found by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the
Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, Socio-Economic
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has
urged President Muhammadu Buhari to
“urgently address country on the matter so as
to clarify the issue, and resolve lingering
doubts among Nigerians regarding the real
owner(s) of the cash.”
Recovered Money
The organization also called on the president
to “ensure legal backing for his government’s
whistle-blowing policy by vigorously pursuing
the passing by the National Assembly of the
Whistle-blower Bills.”
Both Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
and the National Intelligence Agency last week
reportedly claimed ownership of the cash,
casting doubts on the ‘real claimants.’
In a statement today by SERAP executive
director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization
said that, “The government’s increasing
reliance on whistle-blowers’ tips to fight
corruption has to be backed by some level of
transparency and accountability in the real
identities of those claiming recovered cash.
Clearing the doubts surrounding the real
identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul
would demonstrate that the president values
transparency over secrecy, provide further
encouragement to blow the whistle on
governmental corruption, and enhance the
public right to know.”
According to the organization, “Democracy
abhors secrecy, and for Nigerians to be able to
hold elected leaders accountable, they must
have access to information such as on the real
identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul.
This transparency is fundamental to the
operation of the government’s whistle-blower
policy, and inextricably rooted in the notions of
good governance and the rule of law under the
1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended).”
The statement read in part: “No good comes
from secrecy in governance, as officials who
have become accustomed to operating without
accountability are loath to relinquish the power
that comes from conducting their business
without public scrutiny. When public authorities
resist efforts to shine a light on their activities,
it gives the impression that there is something
to hide. It’s counter-productive to overstate
national security based secrecy needs, as
secrecy encourages poorly informed and under-
vetted decision-making.”
“Public scrutiny is a prerequisite for changing
harmful, entrenched practices. Rather than
operating the whistle-blowers policy as hidden,
mysterious mechanism at the far edge of
democracy, this government should make the
operation of policy more transparent and
accessible to the public. Both transparency and
accountability are necessary to uphold the
rights of victims of corruption and ensure that
suspected perpetrators are held to account.
The ‘sky will not fall’ if the true identities of
those behind the Ikoyi cash haul are revealed.”
“It’s clear that as the EFCC continues to
uncover more suspected looted or ill-gotten
cash, those blowing the whistle will need
greater level of protection. But without
outlawing retaliation and attacks against
whistle-blowers, and taking a firm stance on
protecting them, the incentive of bounty
rewards would be negated, as potential
whistle-blowers may be discouraged from
performing invaluable public interest service.”
“It shouldn’t be the case that the government
knows the risks of whistle-blowing and yet
fails to provide the needed legal protection
against retaliation and attacks, regardless of
whether whistle-blowers are entitled to
bounties.”
“The policy of giving whistle-blowers some
percentage of recovered loot would seem to be
a game changer in the fight against corruption
but this government now has to squarely
address the significant risks that those who
blow the whistle face by urgently working with
the National Assembly to ensure the necessary
legal backing that would ensure protection
against reprisals and attacks.”
“The government should ensure that the
National Assembly expedites the process of
passing the Whistle-Blower Bill, as ensuring
that the bill is passed without further delay
would recognize the necessity of
whistleblowers and the value they add to the
anti-corruption fight by reporting otherwise
unknown corruption-related information. It
would also ensure that whistle-blowers are
fully protected from any retaliation and attacks
they may experience, and that the government
fully appreciates the information they provide.”
“Continuing delay in the passing of the Whistle-
Blower Bill would have a chilling effect on
potential whistleblowers and hinder the public’s
ability to learn about the kind of cash haul
found in Ikoyi and elsewhere across the
country. It’s also contrary to Article 33 of the
UN Convention on Corruption, which Nigeria
has ratified. The convention obligates the
government to put in place appropriate
measures to provide protection against any
unjustified treatment for any person who
reports in good faith and on reasonable
grounds to the competent authorities any facts
concerning offences established in accordance
with the convention.”