Jonathan
Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an open
letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan
seeking explanations from him on what he knew
on the diversion and sharing of over $2 billion
meant for purchase of arms to fight Boko
Haram.
SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo
Mumuni, in a letter, which read in part, said:
“SERAP is sending you this open letter to seek
explanations from you, as former President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed
Forces, on what you knew, or had reason to
know on the apparent diversion and sharing of
the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms to
empower Nigerian soldiers to fight Boko Haram.
“SERAP considers that there is enough material
in the public domain to suggest that over $2
billion meant for purchase of arms to equip
Nigerians soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the
North East of the country was diverted and
shared among high-ranking government and party
officials under your watch as President and
Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces.
“SERAP and indeed Nigerians reserve the right to
pursue justice through appropriate national and
international accountability mechanisms to
ensure that everyone involved in this heinous
crime is brought to justice in accordance with
international standards of fairness.
“Is it correct to suggest that the budget of over
$2 billion to purchase arms for Nigerian soldiers
fighting Boko Haram in the North-East of the
country was authorised by you or your office? In
other words, did your former National Security
Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) seek
your approval to collect from the Central Bank of
Nigeria the over $2 billion meant for purchase of
arms for Nigerian soldiers?
“If so, Nigerians would like to hear from you
whether the apparent diversion and sharing of
our commonwealth by your former NSA was
expressly or implicitly authorised by you.
“Is it then correct to suggest that the former
NSA implements presidential decisions and not
make them? If so, is it also correct to suggest
that the apparent diversion and sharing of the
over $2 billion meant for purchase of arms was a
presidential-level decision and that you signed off
on it?
“Is it not correct to suggest that your
administration acted on the basis that it was
essentially unrestrained by international or
Nigerian law in engaging in or encouraging the
apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2
billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian
soldiers in order to protect them against attacks
from Boko Haram and to enhance their ability to
defend the territorial integrity of the country and
provide security for its citizens?”
“Assuming you did not directly order or authorise
the apparent diversion and sharing of the over $2
billion meant to purchase arms for Nigerian
soldiers, is it fair to suggest that you at least
knew, or had reason to know, that your own
former NSA was apparently involved in the
heinous crime of corruption to wit: the diversion
and sharing of over $2 billion meant to purchase
arms for Nigerian soldiers; and did not take all
necessary and reasonable measures in your
power as Commander-in-Chief and President to
prevent the alleged diversion and sharing of our
commonwealth, as explained above?
“Would you accept that the apparent diversion
and sharing of the over $2 billion was largely due
to your failure to ensure: (1) that system was in
place to ensure a transparent and accountable
spending of budget for military operations in
strict accordance with the standards of
international law including the UN Convention
against Corruption; (2) that any such system was
operating in a continuous and effective manner;
and (3) that violations of the standards were
punished when detected by that system?
“After the apparent diversion and sharing of the
over $2 billion was brought to your attention, did
you take any step to refer your former NSA and
all those involved in the diversion and sharing to
appropriate anticorruption agencies to ensure
that all those who were alleged to be responsible
for this heinous crime of corruption are brought
to justice?
“Would you agree that the apparent diversion and
sharing of the over $2 billion meant for purchase
of arms for Nigerian soldiers has seriously
undermined the ability of the soldiers to defend
themselves and fight Boko Haram; resulted in
some soldiers being unfairly tried for refusing to
fight without being provided with necessary
arms; inflicted severe pain or suffering; and
caused unnecessary loss of lives and
displacement of law-abiding citizens?
“Would SERAP be correct to suggest that you, as
President and Commander-in-Chief, knew about
the authorization, apparent diversion and sharing
of the over $2 billion meant to purchase arms for
Nigerian soldiers, in the chain of command
involving your former NSA and others?
“Would it therefore be correct to further suggest
that your acts and/or omissions concerning the
apparent diversion and sharing of the over $ 2
billion were such as to give rise to personal
liability through command responsibility for the
actions of your former NSA and others who
worked under you?
“Would you now, on the basis of the above,
apologise to Nigerians for the apparent diversion
and sharing of the over $2 billion and the
catastrophic consequences for Nigerian soldiers
and their families, including those who have lost
their lives; those unfairly tried and convicted; and
millions of displaced Nigerians?
“Nigerians are eagerly awaiting your
clarifications on the issues raised above, and
your apology.
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