The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, to account for the whereabouts of over N100 billion dirty notes awaiting examination, kept in various branches of the bank.
In a letter signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The organisation said these allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of public trust, the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the CBN Act, and national and international anti-corruption obligations.
SERAP also asked the management of the bank to explain the whereabouts of the N7.2 billion budgeted for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch in 2010 and the N4.8 billion budgeted for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch in 2009, as well as publish the names of the contractors who collected the money but failed to complete the projects.
It also asked that they referred these violations of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), and the CBN Act to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation
The bank governor, Olayemi Cardoso was urged to report back within seven days or appropriate legal actions would be taken to compel the apex back to comply with the request, in the public interest.
SERAP asserted that these alleged violations have seriously undermined the ability of the CBN to effectively discharge its statutory functions and the public trust and confidence in the bank.
According to the organisation, the apex bank ought to be committed to transparency and accountability in its operations.