SERAP Accuses Buhari’s Administration of Delay in Implementing Judgment Against Corruption

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accused the administration of President Buhari of non-implementation of several groundbreaking judgments obtained so far.

In a press briefing in Lagos tagged ‘Failed Promises: Corruption in the Water, Health and Education Sectors in Nigeria,  SERAP Deputy Director, Oluwadare Kolawole said failure to implement court judgment is ‘incompatible with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations’.

He said, “SERAP has obtained several ground-breaking judgments that the Buhari administration has persistently failed and refused to implement. The failure and refusal to enforce and implement legally binding court judgments is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”

Despite the growing deficit of the national budget, Kolawole decried the almost non-existence of quality education, affordable healthcare, and regular and uninterrupted water supply primarily due to systemic and widespread corruption in these sectors.

He said, “In spite of the growing deficit in our national budget and increasing national debt profile, access to basic public goods and services such as quality education, affordable healthcare and regular and uninterrupted water supply has become almost non-existent due primarily to systemic and widespread corruption in these sectors.

Following the release of the 2018 and 2019 Auditor General’s reports on corruption in the water, health and education sector, Kolawole called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and appropriate anti-corruption to thoroughly investigate alleged misappropriation of Nigeria’s resources.

“Investigating the allegations of corruption and mismanagement of Nigeria’s resources, prosecuting suspected perpetrators and recovering any missing public funds would contribute to addressing the systemic and widespread corruption, which has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable and marginalized and entrenched inequality. This is in spite of alarming revelations by the Auditor General of the Federation in the 2018 and 2019 Auditor General’s report.

“Unless the president makes good on his promises and constitutional oath of office, SERAP will consider exploring appropriate legal action to compel the Federal Government to act as recommended in the public interest”, Kolawole added.