Youth Group Slams GIW Over ₦1.4bn NiDCOM Audit Allegations, Warns Against ‘Media Trial’
‘ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Concerned Nigerian Youths for Good Governance (CNYGG) has strongly defended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) following recent corruption allegations, cautioning civil society groups against weaponising public audits for political persecution.
The controversy stems from claims made by Global Integrity Watch (GIW) regarding approximately ₦1.409 billion in aggregated audit observations tied to NiDCOM’s financial activities.
In a press statement signed by its National Convener, Amb. Mahmud Abubakar, CNYGG clarified that an audit query does not equate to a criminal conviction.
The group urged the public and civil society actors to allow due process to take its course rather than engaging in premature condemnation.
“An audit observation, financial discrepancy, or request for clarification must not automatically be interpreted as evidence of fraud, corruption, or misappropriation,” Abubakar stated. “The figure itself must not be presented as proof that the money was stolen.”
Defence of NiDCOM and Leadership
CNYGG expressed absolute solidarity with NiDCOM’s leadership under Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, maintaining that the Commission deserves a fair opportunity to address the statutory queries.
The youth group acknowledged NiDCOM’s readiness to present its financial records before the National Assembly and the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
The group also raised questions regarding the institutional transparency of GIW itself, noting that its Executive Director, Comrade Abraham Temitayo Adewoye, has been holding executive engagements in London. CNYGG challenged GIW to demonstrate its own credibility, funding transparency, and governance structures to the Nigerian public.
Key Demands and Warnings to GIW
CNYGG issued a final warning to Global Integrity Watch, outlining specific demands to ensure professional advocacy:
• Halt Media Trials: Give NiDCOM a fair opportunity to respond through statutory channels before drawing conclusions in public.
• Provide Verifiable Evidence: Ensure every public allegation is backed by concrete proof rather than sensationalized claims.
• Utilize Proper Channels: Refer any legitimate suspicions of financial irregularities to appropriate Nigerian investigative and oversight authorities.
• Distinguish Audit Terms: Clearly differentiate between routine audit observations, unresolved queries, and actual established findings of wrongdoing.
• Disclose Operations: Practice internal transparency by disclosing GIW’s own funding sources, governance arrangements, and operational intent.
The statement concluded with a call for institutional stability, emphasizing that while accountability is vital for democracy, anti-corruption campaigns must never be exploited as tools for political vendettas.
