Workshop On Monitoring And Reporting Of Oil Subsidy Fraud/Corruption Cases In Nigeria:The Communique
Workshop On Monitoring And Reporting Of Oil Subsidy Fraud/Corruption Cases In Nigeria:The Communique
Posted by: Newsdiaryonline Posted date: May 17, 2014 In: Business, Civil Society | comment : 0
diezaninewCOMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO DAY WORKSHOP ON MONITORING AND REPORTING OF OIL SUBSIDY FRAUD/CORRUPTION CASES IN NIGERIA, HELD AT VINES HOTEL, ABUJA, 13- 14, MAY 2014.
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), with support from Justice for All, J4A, a window of funding of DfID, organised a two-day workshop from May 13-14, 2014 at the Vines Hotel, Abuja. The workshop was part of activities of ANEEJ “Advocacy against impunity in oil subsidy regime in Nigeria” project. Twenty seven (27) participants drawn from Anti-corruption Agencies (ACAs), media, Civil Society, and academia attended the workshop.
The meeting reviewed the lull being experienced in the enforcement of recommendations in oil subsidy corruption cases following the 2012 national protests which greeted attempt by the Federal Government to completely remove subsidy on PMS, the reports of probe committees of the National Assembly headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan, Ministry of Petroleum Resources led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Presidential committee led by Aig-Imoukhuede.
The workshop also reviewed the prosecution of cases investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
The workshop noted the followings:
• Slow pace of prosecution of suspects by the courts resulting in no convictions, more than two years after fueling speculations that children of the big politicians seem to have escaped justice.
• Participants expressed worries over the management of funds, running into billions of dollars saved from fuel subsidy since January 2012 till date.
• Participants noted poor information flow from government to the general public relating to oil subsidy fraud and corruption investigation and prosecution since January 2012 till date.
• Civil Society and media appear not to have done enough in following through this issue since 2012 given the enormity and implications of the problem to the Nigerian economy.
• Participants equally decried improperly reconciled information and data from government agencies and institutions on oil subsidy fund, and to link oil subsidy thieves to their crimes and for general understanding by the public.
In the light of the above, the workshop made the following calls on major stakeholders:
1. President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government should demonstrate strong political will in pursuing fuel subsidy fraud and corruption cases to douse the impunity tag on the government.
2. The Judiciary should treat the handling of fuel subsidy fraud and corruption matters expeditiously and tell Nigerians how much have been recovered from indicted companies and individuals from January 2012 till date.
3. The Federal Government should release regular updates on cases of prosecutions currently going on and ensure that all indicted companies and individuals are brought to justice.
4. The Federal Government should tell Nigerians how much accrued to the fuel subsidy account and put mechanisms in place for a more transparent and accountable management of the oil subsidy regime.
5. The National Assembly should revisit the issue of oil subsidy fraud/corruption and demand accountability from the executive and judicial arms of government as part of its oversight functions.
6. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special Fraud Units (SFU) should provide information to Nigerians on those successfully investigated and being prosecuted in courts.
7. Civil Society and Media should intensify efforts in monitoring and reportage of progress made on oil subsidy fraud and corruption cases.
8. Nigerians should rise and hold the government to account on the need to bring all oil subsidy fraud/corruption suspects to justice.
SIGNED:
1. Mr. Leo Atakpu, Deputy Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ.
2. Lukman Adefolahan, Zero Corruption Coalition
3. Oluwaseyi Moses, Publish What You Pay Campaign, Nigeria
4. Hajia Titi Yakubu, Development Exchange Centre
5. Victor Emejuiwe, Centre for Social Justice