Borno flood diaster: Probe state’s spending of billions of ecological funds

President Bola Tinubu has been urged by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to order the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the relevant anti-corruption agencies, to look into how the billions of naira that Borno State has collected from the Federal Government’s Ecological Fund since 2001 have been spent.

Specifically, SERAP also demanded the probe of the N816 million collected by the state between January 2024 and June 2024.

SERAP said suspected perpetrators of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of ecological funds should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.

In the letter on Saturday and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Your government has a legal obligation to address the prevalence of flooding across the country and its effect on people, and to ensure that the money meant to stop the floods is not lost to corruption.

“The devastation in Borno highlights your government’s obligation to promote and ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of ecological funds by all tiers of government and emergency management agencies.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated in part.

“Your government has legal obligations to ensure protection of the rights of flood victims in Borno and elsewhere in the country.”