N446.3bn Loot: SERAP Sues
FG Over Withdrawal Of
Charges Against
Muhammad Abacha
By OLUGBENGA SOYELE
— July 2, 2014
Worried by the recent withdrawal of
corruption charges against the son of
the late Nigeria military dictator, Gen.
Sani Abacha, Muhammed, a civil
society organisation, the Socio-
Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP), has dragged the
federal government to court.
Following the withdrawal of corruption
charges against the son of late Nigeria
military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha,
Muhammed Abacha, a Non
Governmental Organisation (NGO),
Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) has
dragged the federal government to
court.
In a suit filed before the Federal High
Court sitting in Lagos by SERAP
yesterday, the organisation is praying
court for an order directing the
defendants to reinstate the corruption
suit against Muhammed Abacha.
Joined as respondents in the suit are
President Goodluck Jonathan and the
Attorney General of the Federation
(AGF), Mohammed Adoke.
SERAP also want the court to declare
that the withdrawal of the N446.3bn
corruption charges against Abacha is
illegal and unconstitutional having
regard to Section 15(5) of the 1999
Constitution of Nigeria, which provides
that the state shall abolish all corrupt
practices and abuse of power.
It added that FG’s action was contrary
to public interest, interest of justice
and the need to prevent abuse of legal
process.
“This means that the respondents are
to prevent the exploitation of Nigeria’s
human and natural resources for any
reasons other than for the good of the
community,” it noted.
“It also means that in cases of
corruption the respondents will ensure
diligent and effective prosecution of
suspected perpetrators.”
“The philosophical foundation for the
inclusion of the fundamental objectives
in the Constitution is government’s
powers are not exercised to disregard
the very institution and citizens they
ought to protect”.
“The good faith nature of the
obligations assumed by Nigeria under
the UN convention does not grant
discretion to the defendants to refuse
to prosecute, recover stolen assets and
end the impunity perpetrators.
“It is submitted that there are no
exceptional circumstances warranting
the withdrawal of the corruption
charges/suit against Muhammed
Abacha by the defendants. leadership.ng/news/376640/n446-3bn-loot-serap-sues-fg-withdrawal-charges-muhammad-abacha

leadership.ng/news/376640/n446-3bn-loot-serap-sues-fg-withdrawal-charges-muhammad-abacha

see u in court

By the time this case gets to court, he would be the governor of Kano.