Lagos – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has written an open letter to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, requesting he demand “a comprehensive looters list” from President Muhammadu Buhari when they meet.
The organization requested President Trump to exercise is constitutional powers under the Presidential Proclamation 7750 to temporarily ban those named on the list and their family members from entering the US, pending the final determination of the cases against them.
In the letter dated 29 April 2018 and signed by SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, it said: “Applying the Presidential Proclamation 7750 would be very helpful to Nigeria’s efforts to fight grand corruption and end entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators in the country. It would also facilitate equivalent visa bans in other globally desirable locations as well.
“Limiting the abilities of suspected kleptocrats, their families, and friends to enter the US and enjoy their loot abroad will provide a significant crimp in their lifestyles.”
The organization also urged President Trump to use to ban those indicted for allegedly stealing public funds ment to buy 12 helicopters, four fighter jets and ammunition meant for the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram.
SERAP noted that, Presidential Proclamation of 2004 allows the US Department of State to deny visas to corrupt foreign officials, their families and friends.
The letter partly read: “Imposing targeted anticorruption sanctions against those accused of grand corruption in Nigeria would help to deter corrupt behaviour by high-ranking public officials. Such sanctions would not violate due process and presumption of innocence principles, if the reasons for the sanctions are communicated to those that may be affected.”
“Proactive initiatives to combat global corruption have always been in the best long-term interests of the US. Therefore, your application of targeted anti-corruption sanctions would reaffirm US commitments to the global fight against corruption, help to supplement Nigeria’s criminal justice system, and be entirely consistent with the US obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption. Nigeria has also ratified the Convention.”
SERAP which noted that, the Nigerian government in 2016 published details of the recoveries, said the publication of the recoveries failed to disclose the names of high-level public officials, politicians and others from whom the funds were discovered.
“In July 2017 Hon Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/CS/964/2016, ordered the Nigerian government to widely disseminate including on a dedicated website information about the names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered since May 2015 and to disclose the circumstances under which funds were returned.
“The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami SAN publicly said that government agreed with the ruling and would carry out the order. However, the Nigerian government only recently published alleged looters’ list. Even then, the list is not comprehensive and would appear lopsided.” the letter further reads.
