{"id":701,"date":"2017-02-23T04:32:40","date_gmt":"2017-02-23T04:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/?p=701"},"modified":"2017-02-23T04:32:40","modified_gmt":"2017-02-23T04:32:40","slug":"csos-want-saraki-to-investigate-self-others-want-special-crimes-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/?p=701","title":{"rendered":"CSOs want Saraki to investigate self, others; want special crimes court."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
Speaker Dogara<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\nCSOs want Saraki to investigate self, others; want special crimes court.
\nBy Alifa Daniel, Abuja.
\nA coalition of civil society groups has called on Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to initiate an independent enquiry into allegations that he, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s were alleged beneficiaries from a financial fraud to the tune of N630 million.
\nIt called on Saraki and other principal officers of the federal legislature to openly declare their assets.
\nThe group of 16 also reiterated the call for openness and accountability in the management of the finances of the National Assembly, just as the Assembly compelled other agencies of government to do.
\nAs a way out of the pervasive corruption in the country, the coalition called for the setting up of a special crimes court to expedite action on corruption cases.
\nBelow is a full text of the letter to Saraki:
\nFebruary 21, 2017
\nHis Excellency
\nPresident of the Senate,
\nNational Assembly Complex,
\nThree Arms Zone,
\nAbuja
\nNIGERIANS DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION ON TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
\nThe National Assembly is an important arm in the triangular governance structure of Nigeria. As the arm of government responsible for making laws for the country, and following up with oversight functions to ensure compliance by other arms of government, the centrality of the National Assembly in a democracy cannot be overstated.
\nWithin the National Assembly, the Senate is the lead chamber responsible for many important decisions of the law-making body. This also places the Senate President, as the Chairman of the National Assembly. It is for these reasons that we choose to address this letter to you, and by extension the 108 other Senators.
\nRecall that through individual citizens and coalitions of civil society organisations, Nigerians have for a long time been expressing desire for a National Assembly that is responsive, responsible and fully accountable to the people whose interests the members ought to represent.
\nHowever, with all the entreaties, advocacies and agitations, the Senate has failed to lead in providing the needed leadership for a more accountable system both within the National Assembly and in the larger governance architecture.
\nIt is in furtherance of these agitations that we find it expedient to once again engage the Senate leadership on these pro-people demands as enumerated below:
\nOpening-up the National Assembly budget to public scrutiny:
\nTransparency is key to operating an orderly and accountable system. It is an essential ingredient in the fight against corruption. It is for this reason that citizens in a democracy have a fundamental right to know and ask questions where necessary. For this same reason, Nigerians have been advocating for openness and accountability in the operations of government. It is commendable that the 8th National Assembly recently compelled such hitherto opaque agencies like FIRS, CBN and NNPC to subject their budget to scrutiny. It is, therefore, important that the National Assembly follows the rule it has set for other agencies and institutions by making its own budget open for public scrutiny.
\nCutting running cost:
\nThe Senate has been accused of maintaining a bloated budget. Considering the prevailing economic situation in the country, we urge it to do an immediate review of its budget and spending, streamlining it in consonance with not only the present realities of the country but the everyday living conditions of majority of Nigerians.
\nCommitment to transparency and accountability through asset declaration:
\nWe urge you and other principal officers of the Senate to show commitment to transparency and accountability by publicly declaring your assets. We demand urgent status declaration of pensions and gratuities received by former Governors and Deputy governors presently in the Red Chamber and receiving multiple housing and transportation allowances both as former state executives and serving Senators. We also urge you as the leader of the National Assembly to set an example by making your declaration of asset public.
\nInvestigate allegation of corruption against the Senate leadership:
\nYou would recall that a few weeks ago, a rights group, Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) accused you, your deputy, as well the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy, of using the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to perpetrate financial fraud totaling over six hundred and thirty million Naira. For the sake of probity and the integrity of the Senate, we urge an independent inquiry into the allegations. Such unattended accusations have the unsavory effect of undermining the public standing of this important organ of governance.
\nDemonstrate commitment to the fight against corruption:
\nOne of the cardinal objectives of the current government of which you are a principal officer is the fight against corruption. You will agree that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is central to the government\u2019s anti-corruption effort. As the leader of a Senate that has on several occasions expressed its commitment to the war against corruption, it is important that you put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure that the issue of a substantive chairman for the EFCC is dealt with as expeditiously and transparently as possible.
\nExpedite the passage of the Special Crimes Courts Bill and other anti-corruption related bills.
\nThe objective of the Special Crimes Courts Bill, as stated in its title, is: \u201cAn Act to provide for the establishment of a Special Crimes Court as a superior court of record to allow for speedy trials of certain offences, including economic and financial crimes, terrorism, money laundering, corruption offences and for related matters.\u201d The lack of passage of this bill and other related bills is delaying the adjudication of criminal cases. It is, therefore, imperative to have these specialized courts and other laws enacted in good time.
\nSir, we respectfully demand immediate action on the issues raised hereabove. These actions must go beyond the usual platitudes and politically correct assurances. This is a first step in pressing for these demands. We are, therefore, giving the Senate two weeks from the date of this letter, to show good faith in addressing the issues raised above.
\nIf the Senate fails to act swiftly on these issues, we will be left with no option but to mobilize Nigerians from all walks of life to mount an occupation of the Senate.
\nDo accept, distinguished Senate President, the assurances of our highest regards.
\nSigned:
\nOlanrewaju Suraju: Civil Society Network Against Corruption
\nJibrin Ibrahim, PhD:
\nAuwal Musa Rafsanjani \u2013 Executive Director \u2013 Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
\nEze Nwagwu – Say No Campaign
\nFaith Nwadishi \u2013 Executive Director \u2013 Centre for Gender and Development
\nYunusa Zakari Ya\u2019u: Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
\nChido Onumah \u2013 Coordinator \u2013 African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
\nNaseer Kura \u2013 Executive Director \u2013 Basic Rights Action (BRA)
\nDebo Adeniran \u2013 Executive Director \u2013 Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL)
\nKemi Okenyodo: Partners WestAfrica, Nigeria
\nIbrahim Modibbo \u2013 Executive Director \u2013 Democrats of Conscience
\nShamsideen Yusuf \u2013 Centre for Democracy and Development
\nMuhammed Attah – Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative
\nDr. George-Hill Anthony – Niger-Delta Budget Monitoring Group
\nDr. Bunmi Awoyemi – Citizen United for Peace and Stability (CUPS)
\nEmeka Betram \u2013 Executive Director \u2013 Person with Disabilities Action Network (PEDANET)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CSOs want Saraki to investigate self, others; want special crimes court. By Alifa Daniel, Abuja. A coalition of civil society groups has called on Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to initiate an independent enquiry into allegations that he, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s were alleged beneficiaries from a financial fraud to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=701"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}