ICC ‘considering’ SERAP’s petition to probe Obasanjo, Jonathan over N11trn electricity fund

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is reportedly considering a petition on the alleged squandering of N11 trillion electricity funds by the administrations of ex-presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had sent the petition after it raised an alarm on the “widespread, systematic and large-scale corruption” perpetrated in the power sector by the previous administrations.

It had asked Fatou Bensouda, ICC prosecutor, to investigate whether the allegations amount to crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the court and to also prevail on the Nigerian government to surrender all suspected perpetrators for trial by the ICC.

Timothy Adewale, SERAP deputy director, confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday, that the court has begun looking into the petition.

It said it received a letter from the court with reference number OTP-CR-245/17 with regards to the petition.

“SERAP can confirm that the ICC is now considering our petition. We have received communication from Mark P. Dillon, head of information and evidence unit of the ICC indicating that the court will give due consideration to our petition,” the statement read.

It quoted the letter as reading in part: “This communication has been duly entered in the communications register of the office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

“As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”

Adewale said SERAP appreciates the prompt attention given the petition by ICC.

“We urge the court to pursue this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by taking the case forward as required by the provisions of the Rome Statute, and ensuring a thorough investigation and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of grand corruption in the electricity sector in Nigeria,” he added.