President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to strengthen the fight against corruption by publicly pledging to reveal his asset declaration at the conclusion of his term in office.
Additionally, SERAP requested that the president encourage the other members of his administration to reveal their asset declarations upon leaving office in 2023.
Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization’s deputy director, issued an open letter with the requests on October 1, 2022.
SERAP further urged President Buhari to give Abubakar Malami (SAN), the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, immediate instructions to take swift action to prosecute all pending, high-profile corruption cases currently being handled by his office in a diligent, effective, and impartial manner.
The letter reads in part, “Promoting transparency, combating corruption and obeying the rule of law is vital if your administration is not to leave behind a legacy of impunity and an assault against the rule of law.
“We hope that the next few months will show your administration’s commitment to consistently uphold transparency and accountability, in order to create a rule of law-friendly environment that would make Nigerians safer.
“There remain longstanding and grave concerns regarding widespread cases of grand corruption involving high-ranking government officials, and systemic corruption in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and persistent attacks on the rule of law.
“The reality today is that there is massive corruption at the highest level of government, and in ministries, departments and agencies, with a corrosive impact on Nigerians.
“The indicators of bad governance and mismanagement of the country’s natural wealth and resources should serve as proof of the need for your government to reinforce and recommit to the fight against corruption.’’
