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Tag: ICPC

  • Photos: ICPC recovers three ambulances, 500KVA transformer from Kashamu

    Three ambulances and a 500KVA transformer have been recovered from Senator Buruji Kashamu, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), said on Thursday.

    The agency said the items were part of 2016 constituency projects meant to be distributed in Ogun East Senatorial District.

    The items were discovered at his Constituency Project Office in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State .

    ICPC spokesperson Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa said in a statement that the recovery followed intelligence alert by a concerned citizen.

    The statement said: “The three ambulances which were procured at the cost of N6million each, were meant to be supplied to Obada Healthcare Centre, Oke Sopin in Ijebu North Local Government Area; Community Health Centre, Itele in Ijebu East Local Government Area; and Community Health Centre, Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area.

    “The transformer is the last of an initial 11 meant for distribution to various communities of Ogun East Senatorial District which were procured at the cost of N3.6million each, bringing the total for the entire 11 transformers to N39.5million.

    “The commission received intelligence about the items from a concerned citizen who became aware of the commission’s Constituency Project Tracking Group initiative, which exercise has so far covered 12 states.

    “The recovered items were seized and the vehicles were moved to a police station while the 500KVA transformer was marked with the Commission’s seizure seal and in the interim, kept in the custody of the Manager of the Senator’s office.”

  • Judge opens account in maid’s name, saves N870m – ICPC

    A Nigerian judge, Margaret Igbeta, who retired as president of the Benue state Customary Court of Appeal, opened an account 11 years ago at Ecobank, in the name of her maid and saved N870million($2.4million) during the period.

    Her bulging bank account understandably drew the attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which has rushed to the Federal High Court in Abuja for the interim forfeiture of N840 million left in the account.

    Igbeta is being accused by ICPC investigators of opening an account in the name of her housemaid, Theodora Atsu on the 5th of March, 2008, with an initial deposit of N8 million.

    Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, spokesman of the commission said Monday night: “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has requested a Federal High Court, Abuja, to order the interim forfeiture of N840 million traced to a retired President of the Benue State Customary Court of Appeal, Mrs. Margaret Igbeta.

    “The Commission, in an ex-parte motion filed at the court, said that the order would stop Mrs. Igbeta from accessing the money alleged to have been obtained through fraudulent activities in the course of her official duties.

    “ICPC noted that the request for the interim forfeiture is pursuant to Section 48 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and Section 6 (6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

    “The retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal was accused of operating a proxy fixed deposit account in the name of her maid, one Theodora Atsu, with Ecobank Plc, where she accumulated N870, 321, 492.15 between 2008 and 2019.

    “She was said to have opened the account with her passport and the name of Atsu on the 5th of March, 2008, with an initial deposit of N8 million.

    “She subsequently made several other huge deposits including N123, 745, 925.57 and N5 million, in the months of March and May, 2008.

    “It was also noted by the Commission that the money was far above her legitimate earnings both as a judge and President of the Customary Court of Appeal within the period that the account was operated and would have used to meet the infrastructural needs of the citizens and development of the nation.

    “ICPC therefore prayed the court to grant the order in the interest of the nation.”

  • Nothing to show for N2trn spent on constituency projects – ICPC

    Nothing to show for N2trn spent on constituency projects – ICPC

    The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said the nation had spent about N2 trillion on constituency projects without commensurate development at the grassroots.
    The Commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday quoted the chairman as saying it at the induction of newly-qualified members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors in Abuja.
    Owasanoye, while making emphasis on the ongoing tracking of constituency projects by the Commission in 12 states, said that the exercise was not to witch-hunt anyone.
    He said that tracking the projects was an important assignment for ICPC as the nation had spent about N2 trillion on the funding since 2000 without commensurate impact at the grassroots.
    Owasanoye, however, said that ICPC would not hesitate to prosecute any contractor that has failed to deliver on the projects, including accomplices.
    The chairman said that ICPC commenced the Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG) initiative to ensure proper implementation of funded projects at the various constituencies across the nation.
    He further said that the initiative was already yielding positive results as some contractors had gone back to site to complete unfinished projects.
    He, however, noted that the commission was collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) in the on-going exercise.
    News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that constituency projects are ploys used by the legislative arms in the three-tier federation to pad the annual budgets.
    Citizens had criticised the constituency budgets and the security votes for the executive arms as wastes.

  • NYSC to partner ICPC in mobilisation of corps members

    The Management of the Nation Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and that of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have agreed to partner in ensuring that graduates mobilized for national service are genuine.
    This came at the instance of a courtesy visit to ICPC Headquarters, Abuja by NYSC’s Director General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim recently.
    Briefing the Chairman of ICPC, the NYSC boss said that the scheme recently uncovered where unqualified persons were mobilized for national service, and sought for cooperation to halt the practice.
    Responding, the Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said that his commission is ready to work hand in hand with NYSC in putting eyes on the mobilization process of all institutions that produce Corps members.
    He said “my one year of national service under NYSC was the defining moment that brought me to where I am today. I see NYSC as a great institution that no one should take for granted. I therefore give you my word that we shall work together to ensure those who are involved in the ungodly act are apprehended and sanctioned.”

  • EX-NIHSA DG jailed for using state fund for sallah

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has secured the conviction of a former Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Mr John Ayoade Shamonda, after being found guilty of using part of the money meant for the Federal Government project to fund sallah welfare package.
    A statement from the spokesperson for the ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said Shamonda was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court 14 sitting in Apo, Abuja, on 10 counts bordering on knowingly making false statement and virement without approval.
    The statement added that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 16; 17(1)(c) and 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
    It stated, “During the trial, the prosecution presented seven witnesses while 26 documents were admitted as exhibits. The court was also told that Shamonda, while being the DG of NIHSA, had written to the then Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, requesting N603m for the rehabilitation and replacement of damaged hydrological equipment across the country following the devastating incident of flooding in 2012.
    “Furthermore, the court was informed that the former DG in disbursing the money did not follow the ‘procurement plan’ for which the money was released. Instead, Shamonda approved that N2, 767, 500.00 be used for “Sallah welfare package” which was paid to all the members of staff of the agency. Also, he spent N25, 749, 390.60 on a national stakeholders’ workshop.”
    The ICPC said the convict also purchased two Toyota Prado jeeps and two Hiace buses totalling the sum of N49.15m from the sum.
    It added, “In his judgment, Justice Ademola found the accused guilty and convicted him on counts five, seven, eight, nine and 10 to one year imprisonment or an option of fine of N50, 000 on each count which sentences are to run concurrently, while he was discharged and acquitted on counts one, two, three, four and six.”

  • N2.5bn NBC fraud: ICPC drags Lai Mohammed to court

    The immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has been scheduled to appear before a Federal High Court, Abuja, to explain his role in the alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme.

    The planned appearance of Mohammed was revealed by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), who is prosecuting the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, over an alleged abuse of office and money laundering.

    ICPC had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively, saying that the NBC director general misled the former Minister into approving government funds to a private company.

    The former Minister’s involvement had come under questioning following discovery by ICPC during investigations, that a government White Paper that governs the execution of the DSO programme was allegedly flouted by the head of NBC.

    Mohammed had however admitted in a statement to the Commission that he was misled by Kawu, as opined in court by a witness from ICPC, Osanato Olugbemi.

    Olugbemi, led in evidence by counsel to ICPC, Henry Emore, also told the court that the payment of N2.5 billion from NBC to Pinnacle Communications Limited, as seed grant was suspicious because ICPC found out through its investigations that only government owned company was approved to benefit from the grant according to the White Paper.

    The court also heard that the processes that led to the final payment of the fund to the private company were shrouded in secrecy as revealed by the minute from an NBC emergency board management meeting where issues of carriage fees owed Pinnacle and not seed grant was discussed.

    He told the court that 47 suspicious transactions were originated by the Chairman of Pinnacle Communications, Omoluwa, immediately after the receipt of the funds on June 2, 2017.

    The transactions include payments of N363 million to one Idowu Olatunde, N274.4 million to one James Segun and N127 million to Dipo Onifade, the Chief Operating Officer of the company.

    He informed the court that Omoluwa refused to explain the reasons for the payments to Olatunde and James when asked by ICPC, but Onifade explained that he received the N127 million as legal fees he rendered to Pinnacle Communications Limited.

    A Bureau de Change operator, Salisu Mamman Daura, who also testified in court, said he received N167 million in two installments of N97 million and N70 million respectively, from Pinnacle Communications Limited.

    Daura added that the sums were converted into $265, 000 and $195, 735 respectively, at the rate of N360 to an American dollar, and handed in cash to one Alhaji Sabo, supposedly on behalf of Pinnacle Communications.

    Counsel to the accused persons, Alex Iziyon (SAN), A Yusuf and A. V. Etuwewe for Omoluwa, Onifade, Kawu and Pinnacle Communications respectively, took turns to cross-examine both witnesses after which the matter was adjourned to July 1, 2019 for continuation of trial and ruling on two pending motions by the trial judge.

  • ICPC raises alarm over increasing number of abandoned multi-billion naira estates in Abuja

    ICPC raises alarm over increasing number of abandoned multi-billion naira estates in Abuja

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has raised alarm over the rate owners of multi-billion naira housing estates in Abuja abandon their property the moment the commission initiates investigation into their ownership status.

    Its Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who stated this in Abuja on Monday, said the development has become a great worry to the commission and other anti-corruption agencies.

    Owasanoye, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Esa Onoja, also raised concerns over illicit financial flows abroad and estates springing up every day in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The ICPC chair spoke as a special guest at a Forum of Special Anti-Corruption Situation Room, organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).

    According to him, in many cases where Non-Conviction Assets Forfeiture proceedings are initiated against the numerous sprawling estates, nobody comes forward to claim ownership.

    He explained that the ICPC has initiated a number of Non-Conviction Assets Forfeiture proceedings, in line with Section 17 of the Advanced Free Fraud Act.

    Owasanoye added that Sections 37 and 38 of the ICPC Act also empowered the commission to initiate such proceedings in court, where there is a suspicion that such assets were proceeds of crime.

    “Where nobody comes forward to claim ownership after publication of Temporary Forfeiture Orders from the courts, the assets become the property of the Federal Government,” he said.

    The ICPC boss, however, could not immediately provide the number of such Abuja assets so abandoned by their owners, saying: “It’s a big problem that required information from members of the public.

    “We feel that citizens should provide information and after providing information, to act as witnesses. The current administration has a very strong and viable whistleblowing policy.

    “Over N.5 trillion has been recovered through this policy. But a lot more information is required. If we can only get just 25 per cent of what has been stolen and if that money is deployed to education, health, security, I think we would be on the road to joining other nations that our citizens will like to fly to and use their resources,” he said.

    Owasanoye enjoined Nigerians to stop seeing corruption as a “victimless” crime, saying: “When funds meant for health, education, security, housing etc are diverted and end up in private hands, we all feel the impact”.

    Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Garba Abari, said the anti-corruption war was being waged at all levels of government.

    Abari said the citizens owed it a duty and responsibility to key into the anti-corruption campaign of the government, stressing that the cumulative effects of corruption are felt by the generality of the citizenry.

    Head of HEDA’s Human Rights Project Olanrewaju Suraju bemoaned the huge resources in foreign exchange the country had lost to corrupt practices in the oil industry.

    Suraju cited the case of the controversial OPL 245 issued to Malabu and how the Federal Government lost billions of dollars to unethical practices by past government officials.

  • We’ll rid Nigeria of corruption – ICPC

    We’ll rid Nigeria of corruption – ICPC

    Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says the commission would support the Buhari administration in ridding the country of corruption.

    He said this while declaring open the Consultative Meeting of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) to “Develop Faculties for Training on Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) held in Abuja on Thursday.

    The training was organised by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.

    Owasanoye said that the adverse effects of corruption on Africa and the sub-region eroded our values and destroyed humanity.

    “It undermines the rule of law, breaches due process of governance, it produces poor infrastructure and services, and it dispenses justices to the rich, creates unemployment and discourages foreign investment.

    “In another vein, corruption in law enforcement creates criminal cells, and sense of impunity by criminal groups.

    “Corruption diverts public resources into private hands, it increases the cost of business; it instigates civil strife and unrest due to inequality in the distribution of resources and opportunities; it promotes poverty among other vices.

    “The ICPC appreciates these threats and particularly the broken processes and procedures which are exploited by corrupt and criminally-minded individuals, and we are committed to riding the country of them,” he said.

    The chairman said that the commission believed that prevention was vital to controlling and eradicating corruption.

    He said that ICPC’s prevention tool included Systems Study and Review and Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA).

    “Corruption Risk Assessment is an extended version of system studies and reviews but with some proactivity which like all compliance programmes are fundamental to law enforcement.”

    He said that constant training and capacity building for anti-corruption officials to appreciate, understand and cope with the changing and emerging trends of corruption and corrupt practices was truly laudable.

    Owasanoye said that if the fighters of corruption were to have an edge over criminals, then they must improve their capacities in all areas.

    Director, Political Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Remi Ajibewa expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the leadership and member institutions of NACIWA, for honoring the invitation.

    Ajibewa was represented by Mr Eyesan Okorodudu Head, Democracy and Good Governance Division of the commission.

    He said that there was need to make transparency and accountability grow side-by-side with democracy which were essential to reinforce democratic process.

    Ajibewa further said that the welfare of the ordinary Community citizen had continued to dwindle largely due to the prevalence of corruption which had stalled ample delivery of basic needs and services in most of the Member States.

    “Corruption, although is a global phenomenon, continues to be at the epicenter of governance deficit in the ECOWAS region.”

    He said that in order to address this challenge, ECOWAS had adopted a citizen-based approach, particularly after the coming into force of the Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption.

    “Our approach in this direction places responsibility on citizen to act as watchdog for promoting transparency and accountability in governance processes, both in the private and public sectors.

    “To this end, the ECOWAS Whistleblower Protection Policy was adopted as a guide for member states to develop their own whistleblower protection legislation.”

    Executive Director, MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, said that in the last three years, Nigeria had witnessed renewed interest to combat corruption.

    Shettima, who was represented by his deputy, Dayo Olaide said that conducting corruption risk assessment was necessary to the fight against corruption.

    He said that corruption risk assessment had been conducted in various sectors of the economy including port, health and water.

    “In 2013, an assessment of the port was led by ICPC but there is the need to conduct CRA in that sector as there were still challenges as the sector has remained opaque and with a lot opportunities for corruption to take place.”

  • ICPC to appeal ruling that freed suspended SEC-DG Gwarzo

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it would appeal the ruling on the ‘No Case Submission’ in the trial of the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo. Mr Gwarzo and the Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services of SEC, Zakawanu Garuba, were tried by the ICPC.

    The duo was arraigned in June 2018 before Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on a five-count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of about N115 million when Mr Gwarzo was the DG-SEC.

    The former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, suspended Messrs Gwarzo and Garba from their positions in November 2017 over allegations of corruption.

    The minister then set up a panel to investigate the alleged issues, after which the ICPC arraigned them in court.

    In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, on Wednesday, ICPC alleged that Mr Gwarzo received N104.9 million as severance benefits and N10 million excess car grant which he was not entitled to and therefore committed a breach of trust and conferred a corrupt advantage upon himself.

    “Garba was accused of allegedly conniving with Gwarzo to commit the fraud because he approved the monies for him as an Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services in SEC then.

    “The defence counsel A.U.Mustapha (SAN) and Robert Emupkoeruo filed for a No Case Submission after the prosecuting counsel had brought forward their witnesses. The defence urged the court to hold that the prosecution was unable to prove the case against their client.

    Mrs Okoduwa, in the statement, explained that the court then upheld the No Case Submission of the defendants ”because the prosecution had failed to prove the elements of the offence”.

    It said the Board of SEC was the highest authority in the SEC and had by resolution approved the severance benefit and the car grant.

    “The court finally discharged and acquitted the defendants on all the charges against them.”

    She said the ICPC is dissatisfied with the judgment because the board resolution the trial judge relied on did not decide severance benefit ”but retirement and resignation benefit”.

    She said, “the Notice of Appeal will be filed very soon.”

  • Sad! Civil servant arraigned over buying $140,000 US property

    Sad! Civil servant arraigned over buying $140,000 US property

    Victor Igboanugo, a director in the Federal Ministry of Education has been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for purchasing a property worth $140,000 in the United States of America and taking kickbacks worth millions of naira.

    During his arraignment before Justice V. B. Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, Igboanugo was accused of using his office and position to also commit fraud worth N162m.

    The ICPC told the court that the accused, while acting as the Deputy Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, bought the property in the US, whose cost was above his legitimate income.

    The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said, “The accused is being arraigned for alleged contract fraud to the tune of N162m and ownership of a property valued way above his legitimate income.

    “Mr Igboanugo, who had worked at various times in the ministries of Environment and Niger Delta Affairs, is facing 17 counts before Justice Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 23, Apo, Abuja.”

    The commission also accused Igboanugo of abuse of office and conferring undue benefit upon himself, saying the alleged crimes contravened sections 10, 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and were punishable under the same sections.

    The counsel for the ICPC, Henry Emore, told the court that Igboanugo, while being the Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board at the Ministry of Environment, facilitated the award of multiple contracts to private companies where he held personal interests.

    “He was further accused of receiving N20m kickback through one of his companies, Phinavic Ventures Limited, from the Chief Executive Officer of Lufem Engineering Limited, Mr Asiwaju Adekanbi, after the award of a contract for the construction of a skills acquisition centre.

    The charges read in part, “That you, Victor Igboanugo, sometime in October 2008 or thereabout in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, while being a public officer, used your position as Deputy Director and Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board of the Federal Ministry of Environment to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by awarding a contract for the construction of a three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at the Prototype Housing Scheme, Asaba, Delta State, to your company, Echedom Technical & Trading Company Limited for a contract sum of N10.5m, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

    After the perpetrator had pleaded not guilty to the charges, the defence counsel put in an application for bail, which was not opposed by the ICPC counsel.

    The application was granted by Justice Ashi in the sum of N2m with one surety in like sum, who must be an officer not below Grade Level 14 in the Federal Civil Service.

    The case was adjourned till June 19, 2019, for trial.