Anietie Udobit
An anti-corruption advocacy group, the Socio-Economic Rights
and Accountability Project,SERAP has urged President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.),
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and governors of the 36 states to publish the
contents of their asset declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct
Bureau.
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SERAP said in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole
Oludare, on Sunday that Buhari, Osinbajo and the governors would be promoting
transparency by making public, the summary of the assets they declared upon
taking office.
Oludare said the request was anchored on the Freedom of
Information Act, stressing that SERAP would sue the President, the
Vice-President and the governors if they failed to oblige the request within
seven days.
“The summary of assets to be disclosed include, where
applicable, the following: savings and other liquid assets, all immovable
property and shares and actions in any private and public companies; property
purchased by way of tender from any public law entities and information about
businesses owned.
“The non-public
disclosure by public officials of their summary of assets seriously undermines
the effectiveness and integrity of the constitutional and statutory obligations
to submit asset declarations, especially given that declarations are designed
to curb grand corruption.
“The non-disclosure of assets also undermines the authority
of the CCB and weakens the public trust in the asset declaration regimes.
“Our FoI request does not clash with the rights to privacy
and data protection.
“Both rights are not absolute and can be restricted provided
there is a basis in law and a legitimate public interest justifies the
restriction.
“Prevention of grand corruption and exposing unexplained
wealth of officials are serious and legitimate public interests.
“We would also like you to clarify if you have encouraged
members of your cabinet to also submit their asset declarations to the CCB and
to make such declarations public.
“If so, we would like you to provide information on the
details of those that have made submissions,” SERAP said.
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