ICC must probe Obasanjo, Jonathan-SERAP

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project

(SERAP) called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to

investigate the administrations of former presidents, Olusegun

Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua and Goodluck Jonathan for

alleged wastage of electricity funds.

Reports have it that SERAP said the past governments misspend

the sum of N11trillion meant for provision of electricity to

Nigerians between 1999 and 2015.

The statement read:''The Rome statute in article 7 defines

‘crime against humanity’ to include ‘inhumane acts causing

great suffering or injury,’ committed in a widespread or

systematic manner against a civilian population. The common

denominator of crimes against humanity is that they are grave

affronts to human security and dignity.

''SERAP considers these allegations of widespread and

systematic corruption in the electricity sector as amounting to

crimes against humanity and therefore clear violations of the

provisions of the Rome statute of International Criminal

Cour''.

SERAP said: ''Considers the apparent failure of successive

governments and high-ranking government officials to

prevent widespread and systematic corruption in the

electricity sector as amounting to complicity under the Rome

Statute.

''SERA, therefore, believes that the widespread and systemic

nature of large scale corruption in the electricity sector fits

the legal requirements of a crime against humanity''.

The organisation also asked the court to ''Urgently commence

an investigation proprio motu on the allegations of

widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector

since the return of democracy in 1999, with a view to

determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity

within the court’s jurisdiction.

''In this respect, we also urge you to invite representatives of

the Nigerian government to provide written or oral testimony

at the seat of the court, so that the prosecutor is able to

conclude since available information whether there is a

reasonable basis for an investigation, and to submit a request

to the pre-trial chamber for authorization of an investigation''.

The House, through its spokesperson, Abdulrazak Namdas,

called Obasanjo the father of corruption in the country.

SERAP

3 reportedly killed in Abuja flood

Three people have reportedly lost their lives in an early

morning flood in Lokogoma axis of the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The tragedy was said to have occurred on Thursday, August 17.

Officers of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),

are said to be trying to recover corpses of the deceased as at the

time of filing this report.

Other residents declared missing are yet to be seen, The Sun

reports.

The news outlet also reports that minister of FCT, Muhammad

Bello, has 'directed that rescue efforts be raised to ensure that

residents in the affected areas are evacuated immediately.'

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Hundreds feared dead in mudslide near freetown

Hundreds of people are feared dead after a mudslide on the

outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, officials and

witnesses say.

Sierra Leone's national broadcaster announced late on

Monday that the death toll had risen above 300.

Initial Red Cross estimates said as many as 3,000 people were

left homeless by the disaster and that figure was expected to

rise. Communications and electricity also were affected.

The mortuary at Connaught Hospital was overwhelmed by the

number of dead, and bodies had to be spread out on the floor,

coroner's technician Sinneh Kamara told The Associated

Press.

The toll did not include the untold numbers buried alive in

their homes as they slept. More bodies also were expected to

be found as floodwaters recede.