Mohammed Shosanya
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has implored the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) zonal office in Lagos and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to recover the over $825billion (N1.7trillion) stolen between 1999-2022 and prosecute people involve for the good of the country.
David Ogungbesan, Legal Officer, HEDA Resource Centre made the call on Thursday during a protest to EFCC and ICPC on uninvestigated corruption cases in Nigeria between 1999 and 2022.
According to him,on the 18th day of February this year, HEDA Resource Centre unveiled a research compilation which contained numerous cases of corruption and probes that have not made it to the court and have remained unresolved to date titled: “Impunity Galore: A Chronicle of Some High profile Unresolved Corruption Cases in Nigeria.”
The compendium contains cases investigated by either the executive or the legislative arm of governments; the majority of these cases have not been taken up by the EFCC or ICPC.
He said:”Most of these cases fill in one boardroom or one office. We are here to call their attention to these cases so that they can investigate these cases, then bring whoever is involved to justice.
“The amount involved is enormous; over 1.7trillion this amount cannot be ignored. Nigeria is in a situation whereby things are going backward, this money could help to contribute towards economic development, and help the Nigerian people. This money could help the federal government in providing infrastructural and social amenities and could go a long way”
He explained that the aim of the protest is to bring back to limelight unresolved corruption cases depriving Nigerians of a prosperous nation and to also encourage public demand for action on the unresolved cases of corruption, especially the ones reported in the above mentioned publication of HEDA.
“It is not in doubt that the amount stolen by a few individuals, if judiciously utilized, would have taken Nigeria from a developing nation to a developed country where every modern facility and infrastructure, and social support are in place for the citizens. This will in turn positively impact the standard of living of the masses and further abridge the poverty gap.
“We call on all law enforcement agencies especially the EFCC, ICPC to rise up to their statutory responsibilities, irrespective of whose ox is gored, by investigating all cases of corruption especially those mentioned in the compendium.
He said that Nigeria is currently in a precarious situation with the continuous rise in prices of fuel, gas, food and basic necessities and insecurity which have adversely affected cost of living and the government in its bid to increase its revenue keeps introducing new taxes to the detriment of business and citizens.
“It is our position that the anti-corruption agencies can retrieve these huge amounts of money for the country by resolving all the corruption cases. Thus, saving Nigerians from the current economic hardship and turning Nigeria into a prosperous nation.
Kabir Elelu, Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner Lagos ICPC and Zonal Commander EFCC,who received the protesters at their various offices promised to take action on it.