Several civil society organizations have urged the Senate to invite former President Muhammadu Buhari for questioning as it sets up a committee to investigate the N30 trillion loans obtained by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during his administration.
The committee’s mandate also includes examining the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme implemented under Buhari’s leadership.
Ways and Means loans are used by the CBN to cover the government’s budget shortfalls.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, emphasized the importance of the probe during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja. He highlighted the committee’s focus on investigating the Ways and Means loans and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), stressed the need for transparency in the investigation. He suggested inviting former President Buhari to provide insights into the policies that impacted Nigeria’s economy.
“There is really no big deal in the National Assembly inviting the former president who no longer enjoys the so-called constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution. The senate should also interrogate the former leadership of the Senate, who were the principal characters that convinced the Senate to approve such a horrendous policy,” Onwubiko said.
Malam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International-Nigeria (TI-Nigeria), acknowledged the challenges in holding former presidents accountable but emphasized the importance of seeking clarity on their actions.
Similarly, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of the committee, noting past instances where findings were not made public. He urged for a more transparent and accountable approach to governance.
“Regrettably, ex-presidents of Nigeria are often shielded from accountability and appear to be immune to legal scrutiny, refusing to participate in any investigations into their governance. The Senate’s establishment of a committee seems to be merely a public relations stunt, as past occurrences suggest that the committee’s findings will never be made public.
“The committee could even be an attempt by the Senate to absolve former President Buhari of any wrongdoing under the guise of an investigation,” Zikirullahi said.
