FG Asked to Investigate Corruption Allegations in Ministry of Water Resources
- Nigeria's Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, faces corruption allegations, including demanding kickbacks from contracts
- The Civil Rights Advocates Network tasked the anti-graft agencies with beginning a forensic audit into the financial activities of the ministry
- The group sent a powerful message to President Bola Tinubu concerning Prof Utsev and the ministry regarding allegations of large-scale misappropriation of national resources
Lagos State – The Civil Rights Advocates Network (CRAN) is pushing for a forensic investigation into corruption allegations at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, urging the Federal Government to take action and uncover the truth.
Source: Twitter
This was disclosed in a statement made available to Legit.ng on Monday, 4 August.
According to the statement, Emmanuel Davidson, President of the group, has levelled serious allegations against civil servants in the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, led by Minister Professor Joseph Utsev, accusing them of corrupt practices, abuse of public office, and large-scale misappropriation of national resources.
Legit.ng gathered that Davidson made the allegations while speaking during a press briefing in Lagos.
The president voiced alarm over explosive allegations surrounding the Minister, revealing a purported culture of corruption involving kickbacks, with reports suggesting that ministry officials demand and receive a staggering 20% cut from every contract awarded.
According to the statement, Davidson noted that the brazen scheme, allegedly masterminded and rigorously enforced, has reportedly eroded the moral fibre of the ministry's workforce.
"Fortunately, a large number of patriotic officials have expressed their discomfort and outright refused to be complicit in this daylight robbery of the public treasury.
"Moreover, it has been confirmed by sources within the River Basin Development Authorities under the Ministry that the Honourable Minister is currently using these agencies, which were established to provide sustainable irrigation projects and drinkable water to the grassroots, as conduits for illicit personal enrichment.
"Awarding Contracts is not determined by merit or national interest, but by who is willing to part with a lion’s share of the budget. Consequently to, many critical water and sanitation projects are either abandoned, substandard, or outrightly fictional." Davidson explained.
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The statement further revealed that the group called on the anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, to begin a forensic audit into the activities of the Ministry.
"Secondly, we call on the anti-corruption agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to as a matter of urgency launch a full-scale forensic audit of all financial transactions executed under the watch of Engr. Professor Joseph Utsev since his appointment.
"Additionally, the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation must be mobilised to conduct a parallel audit of the Ministry’s books, while whistleblower protections must be activated to encourage more insiders to come forward with evidence of the rot festering under this administration."The statement explained.
The group emphasised that its call for action stems from a sense of patriotic duty to safeguard national institutions, rather than from any partisan motives, stressing the need to protect these bodies from those responsible for their stewardship.
"When a Minister of the Federal Republic, who ought to be a moral compass, becomes the chief looter of a strategic ministry, then the soul of governance is in peril." The statement noted
"The group tasked President Bola Tinubu with suspending Minister Professor Utsev immediately, pending investigation, to demonstrate a genuine commitment to fighting corruption.
"Thirdly, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show demonstrable commitment to the anti-corruption war by suspending Professor Utsev with immediate effect, pending the outcome of investigations. Leadership must not only be seen to be doing the right thing—it must do the right thing, even when it is politically inconvenient." The statement concluded.
Source: Twitter
Group alert Tinubu over plot to destabilise NNPCL
Legit.ng previously reported that a coalition of civil society groups, including the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives and the Human Rights Writers Association, has sounded the alarm over a purported scheme by certain individuals and groups to undermine the recent reforms and progress made in Nigeria's oil industry.
According to the statement, the organisations have urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to remain watchful and reject any attempts to discredit the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), ensuring the continued progress of the oil sector reforms.
Source: Legit.ng
