A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, to investigate allegations of corruption in Lagos State councils.
The petition followed a government audit of 57 councils in Lagos State, which allegedly indicted eight councils of stealing and mismanagement of about N224 million of public funds.
SERAP Senior Staff Counsel, Olukayode Majekodunmi, in the petition, dated November 24, expressed concern about the content of a 2012 government audit report and the inability of government to effectively address the issues raised by the report.
“This situation can only continue to exacerbate the increasing level of violation of the citizens’ internationally recognized economic and social rights, including the right to adequate food, quality education, water and accessible and adequate health services.
“Large-scale corruption, such as the one mentioned above, exposes majority of the citizens to a double jeopardy.
“These people are subjected to hardship of immense proportion, while they are also denied the freedom to explore on the basis of free enterprise, novel and legitimate ways towards individual development and prosperity, which is the most convenient path out of absolute poverty.
“The allegations also constitute grave breaches of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Act 2000 and the UN Convention against corruption, which Nigeria has ratified,” the group said.
by Greenstarnetwork admin..
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