The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested the World Bank Group to “exercise the Bank’s prerogative to release documents relating to spending of recovered assets stolen by Late General Sani Abacha”.
As stated by SERAP, the information is also being sought to improve the ongoing fight against corruption in the country and the provision of essential public services.
In an Access to Information request to its President Jim Yong Kim, the group urged him to “disclose information about the Bank’s role in the implementation of any projects funded by the recovered assets and any other on-going repatriation initiatives on Nigeria with which the Bank is engaged.
The group stated that “should the Bank fail or refuse to release the documents as requested, SERAP would file an appeal to the Secretariat of the Bank’s Access to Information Committee to challenge any such decision, and if it becomes necessary, to the Access to Information Appeals Board.”
The request dated 21 September 2015 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni reads in part: “this application is brought pursuant to the World Bank’s Access to Information Policy (The Policy), approved by the Board on June 30 205. SERAP notes that one of the Policy’s guiding principles is to maximize access to information.”
“There is also clear public interest in Nigerians knowing about the Bank’s supervisory role and specifically its involvement in the implementation of projects on which repatriated funds were spent.”
Absolving the institution, Serap said, “The World Bank has been involved in overseeing the transfer, disbursement, spending of recovered funds from General Abacha, and other similar initiatives to repatriate stolen funds to Nigeria. As such, the World Bank is not a neutral party in this matter.”
“SERAP believes that releasing the documents would enable civil society to meaningfully engage in the management and supervision of repatriated funds, contribute to the greater public good, and enhance transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s resources.”
The group also claimed to believe that the release of the requested documents is of paramount importance to the public interest in preserving the legitimacy, credibility and relevance of the World Bank as a leading international development institution. Indeed, the Bank need to lead by example in issues such as transparency and public disclosure raised in this request.
SERAP argues that the information requested is not affected by the “deliberative” “corporate administrative matters” or “security and safety” exceptions under the Policy. The information requested is crucially required for Nigerians to know how the recovered funds have so far been spent and to know and monitor how the funds (which are public money and resources) are being used.”
“SERAP’s recent report, Deterring Kleptocracy: Finding Nigeria’s Re-Stolen Billions and Repatriating Looted Assets reveals that recovered funds may have been re-stolen or mismanaged. This raises specific questions of public interest, to which the World Bank can provide some answers.”
While stating its request in clear terms bit by bit, it urges Kim to exercise the Bank’s prerogative to, disclose and release documents relating to spending of recovered assets stolen by Late General Sani Abacha, including copies of supervision reports, periodic reviews and other appropriate reports on the Bank’s role in the spending and disbursement of the funds as well as specific projects on which the funds were spent.
It also asked him to disclose implementation status and results and completion reports on the projects on which Abacha recovered funds were spent including information on the of level of involvement of World Bank in the repatriation of Abacha’s stolen funds and other similar funds
Concluding, the group stated he should disclose information on repatriation agreements and the mechanisms the Bank is putting in place to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of repatriated funds