Why ICC must probe Obasanjo, Jonathan - SERAP
- The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has revealed why three administrations of Nigerian former presidents must be probed
- SERAP called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua and Goodluck Jonathan
- The body claimed that the past governments misspend the sum of N11trillion meant for provision of electricity to Nigerians between 1999 and 2015
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the administrations of former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua and Goodluck Jonathan for alleged wastage of electricity funds.
Reports have it that SERAP said the past governments misspend the sum of N11trillion meant for provision of electricity to Nigerians between 1999 and 2015.
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Legit.ng gathered that the organisation made this call in a statement issued by Timothy Adewale deputy director, on Wednesday, August 16.
The statement read:''The Rome statute in article 7 defines ‘crime against humanity’ to include ‘inhumane acts causing great suffering or injury,’ committed in a widespread or systematic manner against a civilian population. The common denominator of crimes against humanity is that they are grave affronts to human security and dignity.
''SERAP considers these allegations of widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector as amounting to crimes against humanity and therefore clear violations of the provisions of the Rome statute of International Criminal Cour''.
SERAP said: ''Considers the apparent failure of successive governments and high-ranking government officials to prevent widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector as amounting to complicity under the Rome Statute.
''SERA, therefore, believes that the widespread and systemic nature of large scale corruption in the electricity sector fits the legal requirements of a crime against humanity''.
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The organisation also asked the court to ''Urgently commence an investigation proprio motu on the allegations of widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector since the return of democracy in 1999, with a view to determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity within the court’s jurisdiction.
''In this respect, we also urge you to invite representatives of the Nigerian government to provide written or oral testimony at the seat of the court, so that the prosecutor is able to conclude since available information whether there is a reasonable basis for an investigation, and to submit a request to the pre-trial chamber for authorization of an investigation''.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the House of Representatives has hit back at former President Obasanjo for calling the latter corrupt.
The House, through its spokesperson, Abdulrazak Namdas, called Obasanjo the father of corruption in the country.
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Source: Legit.ng
