IMPUNITY GALORE : CHRONICLE OF UNRESOLVED HIGH PROFILE CASES IN NIGERIA
By Obiajulu Uwadone Nio
As President Mohammed Buhari winds up his 8-year administraton which promised to eradicate corruption in the country, an NGO Human and Environmental Development Agenda HEDA , in partnership with other researchers have investigated high profile unresolved cases in Nigeria and have come up with a report captioned ” Impunity galore : Chronicle of High Profile Unresolved Cases in Nigeria
According to HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, Nigerians have graduated into what he described as Impunity and not just corruption because, according to him, the perptrators are sure of getting away with them. He lamented the role of the Judiciary in promoting corruption instead of joining hands with government to fight the ugly monster.
HEDA presents one, out of its numerous investigations on cuppution which Chronicled in number of unresolved Corruption Cases .This, according to the anti corruption body is not directed to any government nor political party but cuts across the civilian regime from 1999 till date.
Basis of this work is to ensure that unresolved cases of corrupttion are re- visited, brought to court and the guilty sanctioned as a deterrent to others who may wish to engage in the unholy act.
Impunity galore here is focusing on Unresolved High Profile Cases that never made it to Court , either by Special Panel , Law Enforcement Agencies, National Assembly NAS etc
these factors prevented cases from reaching a conclusive end .
It’s note worthy that cases listed in this Chronicle are not exhaustive and the
selection has not been discriminated .
HEDA ,carried out it’s best research to cover most ground..
The total amount involved in all the cases included in the Chronicle cases is : 1,623,584,000,000 (one trillion, six hundred and twenty three billion and five hundred and eighty four naira ).
Another case in foreign currency is $ 825,679,500,000 ( eight hundred and twenty five billion , six hundred and seventy nine million and five hundred thousand. US Dollars.
The basis and foundation of HEDA is to ensure that things are properly recorded, unresolved corrupt cases are exhumed and perpetrators brought to book.
Over 1.3. trillion naira has disappeared unaccounted for :
Selling of Nigerian property in UK to the tone of 27Million, money like this, would go a long way in elevating the suffering of the masses , building of infrastructures, universities etc.
We have another case of 7billion withdrawn from reservoir , given to private banks , this is unaccounted for.
19.5 billion naira Aviation intervention fund, unaccounted for .
Nigerians have the right to call for accountability.
In a private interview with HEDA Chairman Mr Olanrewaju stated that these cases are not perculiar to any particular political party, but political Elites and Political class .He further stated that Politicians in Nigeria are not affiliated to any party but a vehicle to get power, hence moving from one party to another,that’s why you have Atiku Abubarkar who contested in another party in 2015 election, is now the PDP flag bearer .
Nigerian needs to raise the bar and embarrass Politicians who continually make mockery of it’s citizens.
This chronicles give highlight to historical journey of Nigeria since independence till date, it looks at broad spectrum and discription of corruption and anti pro organisations,it also identifies and compiles corrupt cases and summarizes them in a catalogue.
Participants at the public presentation included: Rilwan Sulaimon, programmes manager HEDA, Sina Odugbemi, programme consultant , HEDA Sulaimon Arigbabu , Executive Secretary HEDA
Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju , Chairman HEDA, among others.
