Group Invokes FOI Act On Malami Over NDDC Audit Report

Posted by Eric Ojo Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Amidst growing anxiety trailing the submission of the forensic audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) last week, a civil society organization, Media Initiative against Injustice, violence and Corruption (MIIVOC) has invoked the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, asking for a copy of the report.

MIIVOC is an advocacy-based non-governmental, non-religious, non-sectarian and non-profit initiative with interest in the war against injustice, violence, immorality and corruption. It is a coalition of communication, civil society and human rights activists and groups with interest in the war against injustice.

In a letter dated September 7, 2021, signed by MIIVOC’s Executive Director, Dr. Walter Duru and addressed to the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, the organization made a single demand of a copy of the forensic audit report, as received by the Attorney General.

The letter reads in part:

“We felicitate with you on the receipt of the NDDC Forensic Audit Report. In view of the right of Nigerians to know, we most respectfully request a copy of the Forensic Audit Report on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as submitted to your office.”

“We expect that the response to this request reaches us within seven (7) days of receipt of this Letter, as required by the FOI Actthrough our email address: miivocinfo@gmail.com and a hard copy sent to our office in Abuja, Nigeria”.

Recall that Dr. Duru, in a live televising programme recently called on the Attorney General of the Federation to proactively disclose the report, in compliance with section 2 (two) of the Freedom of Information Act.

It would also be recalled that the long-awaited Forensic Audit Report on the NDDC was submitted last week to Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice by the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

In his remarks shortly after receiving the report, Malami said the essence of the forensic audit was to ensure probity and accountability in the use of public funds.

He noted that the call for audit by the people of the Niger Delta region arose from the huge gaps between resources invested in the region by the Federal Government vis-à-vis the huge gap in infrastructure, human and economic develop.

He, however assured that the Buhari-led government would in consequence, apply the law to remedy the deficiencies outlined in the audit report, as well as to recover funds that were not properly utilized for the public purpose they were for.