Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe his predecessors, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former President Goodluck Jonathan, over alleged mismanagement of the economy through fraudulent electricity projects and misuse of revenue earnings from oil.
Buhari made the allegation of economic mismanagement against Obasanjo and other past rulers in the country on Tuesday when receiving his supporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In a veiled reference to Obasanjo, Buhari said despite the huge amount, there was no electricity to justify the spending by the previous leader.
Obasanjo had quickly replied the president saying that he had already been cleared over the allegation.
He also requested the president to read his book, My Watch, to get the detailed explanation.
But in a statement issued on Wednesday, SERAP said the president should refer Obasanjo and Jonathan to anti-corruption agencies for a proper probe with the needed evidence.
The group said apart from the $16 billion Buhari alleged to have been wasted on electricity, the probe should be extended to the N11 trillion covering the ones by previous administrations in general.
It stressed that ensuring justice is done irrespective of the calibre of people involved would help restore confidence of the people in the government.
The statement reads in part: “Refer to the EFCC and ICPC not just allegations regarding the $16 billion power projects but also the alleged squandering of over N11 trillion.
“The over N11 trillion was meant to provide regular electricity supply covering the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan
“We welcome the focus by Buhari on the massive allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the power sector.
“We urge him to expand his searchlight beyond the Obasanjo government by ensuring accountability and full recovery of the over N11 trillion squandered by the three administrations.
“It is only by pursuing all the allegations and taking the evidence before the court that the truth will be revealed and justice best served.
“This is the only way to conclusively address the systemic corruption in the power sector and an entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“Addressing impunity in the power sector should be total, this would help improve the integrity of government and public confidence and trust in their government.
“It would also serve as a vehicle to further the public’s perception of fairness and thoroughness, and to avert any appearance of political considerations in the whole exercise.”
