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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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