Publish Reports On Corruption Probes, SERAP Tells NASS

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, to urgently publish all reports of completed public hearings and corruption probes by the National Assembly since the return of democracy in 1999.
In the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, dated July 25, 2020, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, also urged them to “disclose the number and details of public hearings and corruption probes by the National Assembly that have resulted in any indictment of suspects and to name such suspects.
“The reports should be sent to appropriate anti-corruption agencies to consider, if there is sufficient admissible evidence to pursue prosecution”, it argued.
SERAP added: “Publishing the reports of hearings and probes would bolster public trust and confidence in the oversight functions, and dispel the perception that many of these hearings and probes are politically-motivated and serve personal interests, rather than the general public interests.”
The FOI requests, read in part: “We urge you to sponsor a resolution to stop lawmakers from directly getting involved in the execution of projects by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure the proper and effective exercise of oversight functions, including investigations of corruption allegations, such as those involving the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).