The organization also called on Buhari to “ensure legal backing for his government’s whistle-blowing policy by vigorously pursuing the passing by the National Assembly of the Whistle-blower Bill”

In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding
the ownership of the N13 billion ($43.4 million,
N23 million and £27,000) found by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission at the Osborne
Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, the Socio-Economic Rights
and Accountability Project has urged President
Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently address country
on the matter so as to clarify the issue, and
resolve lingering doubts among Nigerians
regarding the real owner(s) of the cash”.gf
The organization also called on Buhari to “ensure
legal backing for his government’s whistle-
blowing policy by vigorously pursuing the
passing by the National Assembly of the Whistle-
blower Bill”.
Both Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and
the National Intelligence Agency last week
claimed ownership of the cash.
In a statement today by SERAP’s Executive
Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization
said: “The government’s increasing reliance on
whistle-blowers’ tips to fight corruption has to be
backed by some level of transparency and
accountability in the real identities of those
claiming recovered cash. Clearing the doubts
surrounding the real identities of those behind the
Ikoyi cash haul would demonstrate that the
president values transparency over secrecy,
provide further encouragement to blow the
whistle on governmental corruption, and enhance
the public right to know.
“Democracy abhors secrecy, and for Nigerians to
be able to hold elected leaders accountable, they
must have access to information such as on the
real identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul.
This transparency is fundamental to the
operation of the government’s whistle-blower
policy, and inextricably rooted in the notions of
good governance and the rule of law under the
1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended).”
The statement reads in part: “No good comes
from secrecy in governance, as officials who
have become accustomed to operating without
accountability are loath to relinquish the power
that comes from conducting their business
without public scrutiny. When public authorities
resist efforts to shine a light on their activities, it
gives the impression that there is something to
hide. It’s counter-productive to overstate national
security based secrecy needs, as secrecy
encourages poorly informed and under-vetted
decision-making.
“Public scrutiny is a prerequisite for changing
harmful, entrenched practices. Rather than
operating the whistle-blowers policy as hidden,
mysterious mechanism at the far edge of
democracy, this government should make the
operation of policy more transparent and
accessible to the public. Both transparency and
accountability are necessary to uphold the rights
of victims of corruption and ensure that
suspected perpetrators are held to account. The
‘sky will not fall’ if the true identities of those
behind the Ikoyi cash haul are revealed.
“It’s clear that as the EFCC continues to uncover
more suspected looted or ill-gotten cash, those
blowing the whistle will need greater level of
protection. But without outlawing retaliation and
attacks against whistle-blowers, and taking a
firm stance on protecting them, the incentive of
bounty rewards would be negated, as potential
whistle-blowers may be discouraged from
performing invaluable public interest service.
“It shouldn’t be the case that the government
knows the risks of whistle-blowing and yet fails
to provide the needed legal protection against
retaliation and attacks, regardless of whether
whistle-blowers are entitled to bounties.
“The policy of giving whistle-blowers some
percentage of recovered loot would seem to be a
game changer in the fight against corruption but
this government now has to squarely address the
significant risks that those who blow the whistle
face by urgently working with the National
Assembly to ensure the necessary legal backing
that would ensure protection against reprisals
and attacks.
“The government should ensure that the National
Assembly expedites the process of passing the
Whistle-Blower Bill, as ensuring that the bill is
passed without further delay would recognize the
necessity of whistleblowers and the value they
add to the anti-corruption fight by reporting
otherwise unknown corruption-related
information. It would also ensure that whistle-
blowers are fully protected from any retaliation
and attacks they may experience, and that the
government fully appreciates the information
they provide.
“Continuing delay in the passing of the Whistle-
Blower Bill would have a chilling effect on
potential whistleblowers and hinder the public’s
ability to learn about the kind of cash haul found
in Ikoyi and elsewhere across the country. It’s
also contrary to Article 33 of the UN Convention
on Corruption, which Nigeria has ratified. The
convention obligates the government to put in
place appropriate measures to provide protection
against any unjustified treatment for any person
who reports in good faith and on reasonable
grounds to the competent authorities any facts
concerning offences established in accordance
with the convention.”
Alabatvnews.