The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged  President Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into alleged ₦57 billion of public funds missing in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.

SERAP made the call in a statement on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

It wants the President to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe the allegations.

According to the statement, it referenced the 2021 audited report released last week by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

“The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations,” it said.

“The allegations also suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anti corruption legislation, and international anti corruption obligations.”

SERAP demanded that anyone found guilty should be punished by law, and “any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.

”The group expressed worry that poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, [the ministry] in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion [N54,630,000,000.00] meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.

“The money was ‘not directly paid to the beneficiaries.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations,” the statement read.