Nigeria: CAGE Asks ICPC To Investigate PTDF Fraud

CAGE ASKS ICPC TO
INVESTIGATE PTDF FRAUD

Lagos, 27 September 2006: Campaign for Accountable Governance through Elections, (CAGE) has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to urgently investigate the ‘disappearance’ of $500million from the coffers of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and publish the outcome of such investigation. The money allegedly stolen from the PTDF may to find its way into the political process, thus undermining the Commission’s ability to achieve its objectives, said CAGE in a petition addressed to the Commission’s chairman, Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola.

CAGE is seriously concerned that corrupt politicians may be using stolen money to perpetrate political violence in the country; while continuing violence in the context of the 2007 elections may undermine voters’ interest, trust and confidence in the electoral process. ‘These allegations pose a grave threat to the forthcoming elections and other democratic processes towards 2007,’ says Gbenga Ogundare, a spokesman of Independent Advocacy Project (IAP), a member of the coalition’s Steering Committee.

Of the about $700 million realized during the 2002/2003 bidding rounds, said CAGE in the petition, only about $145 is known to have been transferred to PTDF account. There are also allegations that the National Chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali received N5 million from the PTDF account for the endowment of a public health and comparative medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

CAGE said allegations of impropriety at the PTDF are grave breaches of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Act of 2000; and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNAC) which Nigeria recently ratified. Specifically, Sections 9, 10, 17 and 22 of the Corrupt Practices Act would appear to have been violated in the above mentioned case. Section 9 prohibits corrupt offers to public officers; Section 10 prohibits corrupt demand by any persons; Section 17 prohibits gratification by and through agents; while Section 22 prohibits bribery for ‘giving assistance in regards to contracts.’

‘Addressing these allegations would help to achieve a corruption-free electoral process ahead of 2007, and contribute to the restoration of transparency, accountability, good governance and the rule of law in the next democratic dispensation,’ said Adetokunbo Mumuni executive director of Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), and National Secretary of CAGE.

Specifically, CAGE urged ICPC to work closely together with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to:

•Immediately begin a thorough and efficient investigation into the allegations of corruption in the PTDF mentioned above and other unreported acts of corruption that may have occurred in the accounts of the PTDF
•Bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible for acts of corruption highlighted above, as well as other acts of corruption that may be occurring within the PTDF
•Collaborate with the National Electoral Commission to ensure that those who are suspected to be responsible for acts of corruption highlighted above, as well as other acts of corruption that may be occurring within the PTDF are excluded from the 2007 electoral process.

‘The intervention of the Commission in cases like this would lend momentum to the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria; and contribute to ensuring that the 2007 elections are conducted on the basis of international standards relating to transparency, accountability and fairness,’ added Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, executive director of Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC) and National Coordinator of CAGE.

CAGE is a coalition of civil society organizations established early 2006 to promote and advocate for human rights and transparency-driven elections in Nigeria. The coalition seeks to promote human rights reforms through and in – the electoral and related processes. It aims to engage, encourage and motivate the citizens to use their voting rights to demand human rights reforms and accountability from political parties, candidates standing for elections, and current and any future governments.