Being Text of Statement Read at Media-HEDA and Public Presentation of the Publication: “Impunity Galore: A Chronicle of Some Unresolved High Profile Corruption Cases In Nigeria” Presented by Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman HEDA Resource Centre, Ikeja, On 18 February 2022
Distinguished Friends, colleagues, and gentlemen of the press, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support for the work we do.
Since the last time we had this kind of interaction, some of you were here then, on June 12, 2022, there has been a lot of developments in the fight and campaign against corruption. As an organisation, among other things that we have done in recent time especially in terms of research, we also reflected on the numerous cases of corruption and probes that have not made it to the court and have remained unconcluded to date.
Therefore, in partnership with a team of researchers, we investigated the series of cases involved as much as we can and today, we are presenting to you the outcome of that research which we have titled: “Impunity Galore: A Chronicle of Some High profile Unresolved Corruption Cases in Nigeria.”
Let me mention that this topic is so coined because the events of recent years has shown that this impunity has remained unstoppable. In many of the cases, it is either investigation was not completed, committee reported not made public, white-paper not released or there is clear sabotage within and or outside the government.It is also note worthy that the cases listed in this chronicle are not exhaustive and the selection has not been discriminated in any manner.
We have only tried as much as possible to report such high profile cases as much as we can find stories and report on. So, even if we missed some, perhaps we may be able to update them in the near future. However, we have done our best to cover the most ground.
The total amount involved in all the cases reported is: 1,623,584,000,000 (one trillion, six hundred and twenty-three billion and five hundred and eighty-four Naira) and another $825,679,500,000 (eight hundred and twenty-five billion, six hundred and seventy-nine million and five hundred thousand US Dollars).
Below is a snapshot of some of the cases documented in the report.
Allegations of financial impropriety against SGF Babachir Lawal $8,000,000
Allegations of financial impropriety against DG NIA, Ayo Oke $43,000,000
$2 billion arms deal or Dasukigate $2,000,000,000
Probe of Halliburton Bribery Scandal $180,000,000,000
Investigation into $40 Million loan to the Aviation Industry
$40,000,000 NNPC Subsidy payment without recourse to National Assembly – $216,000,000,000
Probe of alleged missing funds from NNPC – $20,000,000,000
Probe into Arms and Private Jets Scandal – $15,000,000
Probe into fuel subsidy scam – $3,500,000,000
Alleged diversion of NLNG Dividends – $378,000,000,000
Alleged sale of some FG prime properties in U.S.A – $27,000,000
Probe of financial fraud committed by officials of the Min. of Foreign Affairs in Tel-Aviv, Israel – $1,500,000 .
Probe of spending on power sector – $16,000,000,000
Investigation into China Loan – $500,000,000
Probe into NIMASA security contact – $195,000,000
Probe into the collapse of Delta Steel Company built – $1,890,000,000
Failure to refund money withdrawn from Nigeria’s foreign reserves by the CBN in 2006 – $7,000,000,000
Abandoned state of the contract awarded for CCTV Camera in Abuja – $460,000,000Others in Naira include:Sagem National Identity Card Fraud – 34,000,000,000
Intervention Fund for Aviation Infrastructure – 19,500,000,000
Financial Impropriety against Adebayo Shomefun led management of NSITF – 3,400,000,000
Probe of PTDF – 20,000,000,000Pondei NDDC Scandal – 81,000,000,000NDDC
Palliative Fund Mismanagement – 6,200,000,000
Probe of alleged diversion by NSITF Management – 61,100,000,000
Probe of alleged revenue leakage in the import and export chain – 30,000,000,000
Federal Govt. Privatized Companies between 2012-2022 – 1,800,000,000
Probe of financial fraud commited of officials of Min. of Foreign Affairs in Israel – 848,000,000.00
Whereabout of recovered loot from Tafa Balogun – 20,000,000,000.00
Alisson Madueke expenditure on private jets – 10,000,000,000.00
Investigation into Insurance premium paid by Nigcomsat – 181,000,000.00
Investigtigation into BMW Bullet Proof Car Scandal – 255,000,000.00
Non-Remittance by PPPRA – 1,300,000,000,000.00
Probe into fraud in NSITF – 2,300,000,000.00
National Pension Commission withdrawal funds by Pencom from CBN account. – 33,000,000,000.00
This document is a collection of corruption cases being investigated by the EFCC, ICPC, Senate and House Committees of the Nigerian law-making body- The National assembly.
The collection is centred on cases between 1999 till 2022.
Chapter One highlights the historical journey of Nigeria since independence in 1960, the crisscrossing of different epoch of governments whether military or civil rule till 2022.
In chapter one, readers will find an economical characterisation of the ruling class, and how members of the ruling class have contributed to 60 years of underdevelopment of the Nigerian state.
The chapter lays emphasis on the interminable rhetoric of the ruling class that is certainly not matched with realities.
Interestingly, the chapter also captures a plethora of agencies and committees created by the same ruling class to address the menace of corruption which has grown unabated over the years.
However, there are recommendations offered to political actors offered in this chapter with a view to addressing the menace of corruption.
Chapter Two captures a broad-spectrum description of corruption from various perspectives of pro anti-corruption organisations like the world bank and establishes a nexus with one of HEDA Resource Centre’s publication which was released earlier in 2019.
There is a short historical trace of the establishment of the two major anticorruption agencies – EFCC and ICPC.
The chapter attempts to stress the paradox of a nation endowed with so much but have majority of its citizens lives in poverty.
The chapter again concluded with recommendations to help foster policy discussion and formation..
Chapter Three is centred around the aim of the study, which is to identify and compile unresolved corruption cases, either investigated by the National Assembly [NASS], and Executive of the Nigerian government other than those undertaken by the statutory anti-corruption bodies or not as well as those of the anti-corruption agencies. It underscores the constitutional provisions for governments both at the National and sub-National to address corruption, and it concluded on the challenges of fighting corruption.
Chapter Four summarises a catalogue of unresolved alleged corruption cases by the executive, legislative arms of government in Nigeria since 1999 till date.
it also attempts to give a sense of status of these alleged corruption cases
Chapter Five, which is the concluding chapter, summarises the key findings of this study, conclusion and key recommendations to the Executive, Legislature, the judiciary, Civil Society Organisations, and the media.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, I will let the publication speak for itself further.
I thank you for listening.
Olanrewaju Suraju,Chairman, HEDA Resource Centre.
