Group warns against media trial in allegations against NNRA

Group warns against media trial in allegations against NNRA

The Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI) has warned against media trial over embezzlement allegations involving the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA),

The group, while calling for a thorough and evidence-based investigation, stressed that the audit’s allegations and observations should not be treated as evidence of personal guilt.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Executive Director of IADI, Comrade Ofomhi Christopher, said the organization was responding to a publication by a media organization dated October 1, 2026, which alleged that about ₦6.69 billion was involved in contract fraud and embezzlement at the NNRA.

IADI also referenced a protest organized at NNRA headquarters on October 5 by Global Integrity Watch (GIW), during which the organization called for accountability, responses to audit observations and freedom of information requests, as well as changes in the regulator’s leadership.

Christopher said the allegations aroused legitimate public interest, but urged all parties to allow evidence, rather than headlines or predetermined conclusions, to guide the process.

“An allegation is not a conviction,” he said, arguing that the public should have access to the underlying audit observations, the periods and transactions involved, the contracts affected, the status of projects or services, the NNRA’s responses and the current status of any pending observations.

According to the IADI, an audit observation is a serious matter that requires explanation and verification but does not, in itself, constitute a judicial finding of fraud or personal embezzlement.

The organization also acknowledged an explanation attributed to the NNRA’s director general regarding the authority’s 2024 capital budget.

According to the explanation cited by IADI, the NNRA’s total capital budget for 2024 was approximately ₦2.7 billion, of which approximately ₦200 million is said to belong directly to the authority and approximately ₦2.5 billion related to campaign projects. The explanation also referred to an additional ₦200 million regional project, bringing the total figure to around ₦2.9 billion.

IADI said it would not present the explanation as conclusive, but argued that the figures should be tested against appropriations documents, budgets, project documents, procurement documents, payments and related audit reports.

The organization said allegations regarding unexecuted projects should be subjected to physical verification, while claims of inflated contract prices should be examined through contracts, bills of quantities, procurement records and related price benchmarks.

It also called for a thorough examination of contractors’ records where necessary and said any allegation of diversion or embezzlement should be verified by following the financial trail.

“Audit questions should lead to verification. Verification should lead to results. And the results should lead to appropriate action,” Christopher said.

The organization also addressed Global Integrity Watch’s October 5 protest, stressing that civil society organizations have the constitutional right to demand accountability and organize peaceful assemblies.

IADI cited Article 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association, while stressing that these rights should be exercised peacefully and in accordance with the law.

On freedom of information requests, the organization said there should be a distinction between the right to protest and the legal remedies available if an FOI request is not responded to.

IADI noted that the Freedom of Information Act provides a judicial mechanism for applicants who have been denied access to information or whose requests are believed to have been rejected. He urged civil society groups to consider available legal and institutional mechanisms alongside peaceful civic action.

An unanswered FOI request, the organization argues, may justify further steps to obtain the requested information but should not, in itself, be treated as evidence that allegations of fraud or embezzlement are true.

IADI also urged organizers of protests at government institutions to consider public safety, access to government premises, and the safety of protesters, workers, and members of the public.

At the same time, he said that government institutions must respect legitimate civic expression and should not use possible institutional tensions as a justification to repress peaceful protests.

“The response to institutional disagreement should be law, evidence and due process, not intimidation or retaliation,” Christopher said.

IADI stressed that its position is neither to shield NNRA officials from scrutiny nor to ignore government spending issues.

The organization called on the relevant audit and supervisory authorities to publicly clarify the status of the observations in question, the responses received from the NNRA, and whether the issues had been resolved, sustained or subjected to further investigation.

It also encouraged civil society organizations pursuing accountability to make full use of available legal and institutional mechanisms, while maintaining their legitimate right to peaceful civic action.

“The public deserves accountability. But they also deserve accuracy, fairness and evidence,” Christopher said.

He added: “A title is not a verdict. An indictment is not evidence. An audit observation is not automatically a finding of personal guilt.”

IADI concluded by urging all relevant authorities and interested parties to review the documents, answer the questions raised and allow the evidence to determine the outcome.

“Let the documents be examined. Let the questions be answered. Let the evidence do the talking,” Christopher said.