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  • We recovered N117bn between Jan-Aug in 2022- ICPC

    We recovered N117bn between Jan-Aug in 2022- ICPC

     

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has recovered over N117 billion between January and August 2022.

    The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, made the disclosure during the commission’s defense of the 2023 budget proposal before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Anti-Corruption and Appropriation in Abuja on Thursday.

    While speaking on the 2022 budget performance, Owasanoye gave a breakdown of the recoveries to include N1.413 billion and $225,965 in ICPC/TSA recovery account and N1.264 billion cash through tax intervention.

    According to him, other recoveries include plots of land, completed buildings, vehicles, electronics and jewelries valued at N679.13 million, N2.603 billion, N81.1 million, N1.55 million, and N195,500 million, respectively.

    The ICPC boss added that the commission restrained N49.9 billion through System Study and Review intervention, N6.435 billion cash through budget tracking, N53.91 billion through ICPC advisory, and N614.2 million in other accounts.

    Apart from the recoveries, the Chairman also highlighted other accomplishments of the commission during the 2022 budget cycle to include the completion of 672 investigations as well as 565 non-petition-led investigations, securing of 15 convictions, and 538 projects tracked under Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), among others.

    On his part, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Nicholas Shehu, lauded the ICPC Chairman and his board members for providing dynamic and visionary leadership, noting that their leadership style has turned around the fortunes of the commission to a vibrant and viable anti-corruption agency.

    Shehu further enjoined them not to relent but to continue to soar higher

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to release the remnant of the commission’s 2022 budget to enable it to accomplish its target.

    The committee chairman also urged ICPC to develop a whistleblowing mobile app so that Nigerians can take advantage of it to report acts of corruption.

  • PRIMORG’s Constituency Project Tracking: Corruption Declining, Implementation Still Challenging Says ICPC

    PRIMORG’s Constituency Project Tracking: Corruption Declining, Implementation Still Challenging Says ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has reduced the incidence of corruption in the execution of constituency projects through its projects tracking exercise across the country.

    The anti-graft agency disclosed that following the advent of constituency project tracking in 2019, there had been a decline in the incidence of individuals diverting constituency projects to their private properties or contractors abandoning projects after receiving payment.
    ICPC made this known during a radio town hall meeting on constituency project tracking in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, organized by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, at the weekend in Lokoja.
    During the town hall meeting, ICPC’s Principal Superintendent Operations, Nathaniel Diton Sipki, who represented the Commission, revealed that compared to the level of corruption and mismanagement of constituency project funds uncovered in 2019 when tracking of constituency projects started, the narrative is now very different.
    According to Sikpi, ICPC set up a steering committee to track constituency projects in 2019 following a massive complaint by Nigerians that projects are only executed on paper.

    “in the first two phases of constituency project tracking by ICPC, there were a lot of issues of project abandonment and diversion of projects, but right now those issues have reduced.
    “From the third phase of the tracking exercise, we now discovered that the idea of collecting money and running away has reduced; and in the fourth phase of project tracking, almost all the projects randomly selected and visited were completed,” He said.
    Sikpi, however, disclosed that quality service delivery in implementing constituency projects is the current hurdle faced by constituency projects across Nigeria, adding that monitoring empowerment projects has also proven to be a difficult task for the ICPC’s tracking team.
    “In relative terms, the work ICPC has done has changed the narrative. The problem now is implementation. ICPC is still receiving reports of poorly implemented projects.
    “Another challenge we face is empowerment projects because they are challenging to track.

    This is because empowerment items are usually distributed months before the tracking team visits.”
    He stated that the Commission, in a bid to address the poor implementation of constituency projects, evaluate such projects and, if not satisfied, recommends recovery of the monies spent from the contractor immediately.
    On his part, a Member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf has called on his constituents to take full ownership and sustain every project brought to their communities in the guise of a constituency project.

    Hon. Yusuf, who commended ICPC and PRIMORG for tracking projects and educating the general public, stated that the initiative has brought about a marked increase in project execution in Federal Constituencies across the country.

    Represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Richard Otitoleke, who revealed that his principal prioritizes needs assessment before nominating any project in his constituency and also is in constant touch with the people he represents.
    Otitoleke called on Nigerians and the people of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency to disabuse their minds on the notion that lawmakers fund constituency projects moving forward.

    “It is instructive for Nigerians to know that lawmakers only initiate or facilitate a project, and its execution is routed through government agencies.
    “Funds meant for constituency projects are not domiciled in the bank account of any legislator. It is the government agency whose mandate covers the area that receives the budget of that particular project.
    “There is no legislator that receives the fund,” He stressed.

    Meanwhile, Woman Leader Lokogoma Community in Lokoja, Favour Bala, said she would take the exposure and experience she garnered from the town hall meeting to further educate her community on the need for them to take ownership and protect constituency projects brought to their community.
    The PRIMORG’s Radio Town Hall Meeting on Constituency Projects seeks to encourage citizens to take ownership of Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP) and promote accountability and sustainability in their execution and usage.

  • ICPC begins disposal of forfeited assets to FG

    ICPC begins disposal of forfeited assets to FG

    Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it has commenced the process of disposing assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The spokesperson for ICPC, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    She said this was in line with the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (POCA), signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 12, with a bid opening to select auctioneers.

    Ogugua quoted the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, as hailing the impact of the bill on the anti-corruption war, describing it as a tool ensuring clarity of purpose to asset recovery and management.

    Owasanoye noted that the unregulated structure surrounding forfeited assets had often led to huge revenue loses, which ultimately defeated the purpose of recovery.

    He further stated that POCA was introduced as a standardised procedure of managing and disposing forfeited assets.

    The ICPC chairman added that it had also set up a governing directorate and ensured that all processes were deliberated upon and executed by professionals who were experts in relevant fields.

    This, he said, had promoted transparency and prioritised corruption prevention.

    Owasanoye also highlighted the fact that each agency that recovered assets was responsible for the disposal of the forfeited assets, adding that the process was tamper-proof.

    “As instructed, all proceeds would be lodged in a dedicated account domiciled in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and accessible only at the discretion of the National Assembly and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Whatever is gotten at the end of this exercise, there is a dedicated account under the watchful eyes of CBN.

    “Nobody has the power to transfer or move anything out of that account, except the National Assembly and the President,” he said.

    Speaking on the bill, the ICPC boss said that the commission had an asset recovery and management manual which provided the guidelines for ensuring that all processes were governed and controlled.

    He also pointed out that the commission had, in line with POCA, set up a committee comprising board members, directors, representatives of labour, civil society organisations, the media and Bureau of Public Procurement, to administer the bid process.

    Owasanoye expressed delight that the commission was among the first to carry out an auction based on POCA and suggested that the success of the process would ultimately encourage other agencies to follow suit.

    The statement further said that the bid opening process began with the opening and counting of submitted bids, based on the lots which had been publicly advertised and subjected to stringent terms and conditions.

    “There were two lots available, with 58 and 54 bids respectively. Each box was meticulously processed, with records being taken for accepted, returned and withdrawn bids.

    “The opening of technical bids was attended by ICPC board members, Dr Grace Chinda and Sen. Anthony Agbo, directors, staffers of relevant departments, bidders and external observers from Bureau of Public Procurement and a civil society organisation.

    The ICPC chairman was represented at the event by a board member of the commission, Dr Louis Mandama.

  • ICPC shutdowns 62 illegal degree awarding institutions, fake NYSC camp

    ICPC shutdowns 62 illegal degree awarding institutions, fake NYSC camp

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it had succeeded in closing down 62 illegal Degree awarding institutions in the country.

    The commission also said it closed down a fake NYSC Orientation Camp in its bid to tackle corruption in the education sector.

    The Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed this at a Youth Dialogue on Corruption in Tertiary Institutions, held in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The dialogue was organised by ICPC for members of Anti-corruption Vanguards from five tertiary institutions in the FCT.

    Owasanoye, who was represented by Mrs Hannatu Mohammed, ICPC Board Member in-charge of youth, said that the Commission had since prosecuted the perpetrators.

    According to him, corruption has debilitating effect on the quality of education of any nation, as no nation will develop beyond the level and quality of its education.

    He said that the ICPC set up the anti-corruption vanguards in schools to push the fight against corruption in the education sector, particularly tertiary institutions.

    Owasanoye further explained that the anti-corruption vanguards provided students the needed opportunity to participate actively in the fight against corruption in their various institutions.

    “The vanguards equip the student members with the capacity to develop zero tolerance for corruption and to inculcate attitudinal change among their fellow students.

    “The vanguards also enable the students to assist the management of their various institutions to effectively reduce corruption in the education system,” he said.

    Owasanoye said apart from the setting up of the anti-corruption vanguards, ICPC had conducted System Study and Review in the University system to identify operations that provided leeway for corruption to thrive.

    He noted that the study discovered various infractions in the university system, such as bribery, gratification, sexual harassment and sexual inducement, examination malpractices, over invoicing, and over-inflation contract values.

    Others according to him include, award of contracts to oneself and cronies, sale of substandard handouts to students, absenteeism, admission racketeering and certificate forgery.

    He, however, stated that the commission had since articulated its findings and recommended effective and workable solutions and forwarded it to the Minister of Education for implementation.

    In a keynote address, Prof. Williams Barnabas, Vice Chancellor, Bingham University, said Nigerian education system must be repositioned to contribute significantly to national development.

    He called for proper scrutiny of students entering tertiary institutions, to ensure that they have the right maturity and moral background and were willing to develop life skills instead of cutting coners.

    Barnabas said corruption in tertiary institutions impact significantly on the availability and quality of educational goods and services and has consequences on access, quality and equity in education.

    He added that some of the corrupt practices by academic staff include shrinking hours spent in classroom teaching, using teaching time for private business, and grades inflation among others.

    The vice chancellor added that parents also push students into corruption by buying grades or bribing lecturers for good grades for their children.

    “The use of teaching time for private business, failure of teachers to plan their lessons, poor methods of evaluation, aiding and abating examination malpractices and using wrong teaching methods are seen as corruption.

    “Corruption erodes the core values of the educational process and thereby undermines and distorts hurman capital formation.

    “It also weakens social cohesion by engendering distrust in interpersonal and intergroup relation, ” he said.

    Barnabas said for the country to get it right, “our tertiary institutions must stick to their mandate of teaching, research and community service.

    “We should also promote the culture of transparency at all levels; education against corruption for all; set up anti-corruption committees that utilise strategies in the fight against corruption.”

    On his part, Mr Mohammed Ashiru, Director, Public Enlightenment and Education, ICPC, said that the overall objective of the dialogue was to ginger the youth to play the role expected of them in the fight against corruption.

    He said this would be done through brainstorming and enumerating the major problems corruption generate in the education sector.

    Ashiru added that to address the problem of corruption in the education sector, the ICPC had interfaced with key stakeholders in the sector and identified various restructures in the system.

    “The partnership led to the involvement of students to hear their perspective on the problem of corruption in the tertiary institutions, hence the result to organise this dialogue.

    “The sole purpose of the dialogue is giving youth the avenue to air their mind freely on the problem of corruption in tertiary institutions in Nigeria without fear or favour.

    “Panel discussion from the five participating institutions will be on subjects such as the achievements of Anti-Corruption Vanguards in the fight against corruption in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    “Others topics include, challenges of sensitising fellow students against anti-social behaviour; how to manage sexual harassment in tertiary institutions

    “What they understand by vote buying and how they will contribute towards eliminating vote buying in Nigeria’s electorate process; between preventive and punitive measures, which one fights corruption better, among others.”

  • NDDC director, Dr Ita arraigned for N45 million fraud

    NDDC director, Dr Ita arraigned for N45 million fraud

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday, arraigned a director with Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Solomon Okpa Ita for alleged diversion of N45 million.

    The ICPC also arraigned Gabriel  Nathaniel, a staff in the Accounts  Department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) over allegations bordering on diversion of about N3 billion from his office.

    They were arraigned separately before Justice Zainab Abubakar of a Federal High Court, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

    Ita, a director in the Department of Community and Rural Development of NDDC, was arraigned on a four-count charge while Nathaniel was arraigned on a 14-count charge.

    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/110/2022, filed by the ICPC, through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimsingha, Ita was said to have diverted part of the funds paid for a contract awarded to a group, Radiant Women Association.

    In count one, Ita was accused to have, sometime in September, 2018 or thereabout, indirectly took possession of the sum of N22,400,000. 00. through his First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Account Number: 0542393012, received from the Zenith Bank account of one Solomon Eyarebe & Ebikebina,.

    The money was said to form part of the payment of the N45,000,000. 00 made to Radiant Women Association for a purported contract to wit: “Workshop for Youth Restiveness in Cross River State” awarded by NDDC through the Department of Community & Rural Development was made.

    In the count, he was alleged to have committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

    Also in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/CR/168/2022 filed against Nathaniel, he was accused of committing the alleged offence between 2015 and 2019.

    After their not guilty plea, Justice Abubakar granted N50million bail to Ita with one surety who must own a property within Abuja.

    The judge ruled that the certificate of occupancy of the property, which should be verified by the registrar, would be deposited at the court registry.

    Abubakar ordered that Ita be remanded in the custody of the ICPC pending when he meets the bail condition, and  adjourned the matter until Oct. 25 for trial.

    However, the judge fixed hearing of Nathaniel’s bail plea for Wednesday and ordered him to be remanded at the commission’s custody.

  • Alleged N3bn fraud: ICPC arraigns NDDC director, FCT official

    Alleged N3bn fraud: ICPC arraigns NDDC director, FCT official

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), on Tuesday, arraigned a director with Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Solomon Okpa Ita for alleged diversion of N45 million.

    The ICPC also arraigned Gabriel  Nathaniel, a staff in the Accounts  Department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) over allegations bordering on diversion of about N3 billion from his office.

    They were arraigned separately before Justice Zainab Abubakar of a Federal High Court, Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

    Ita, a director in the Department of Community and Rural Development of NDDC, was arraigned on a four-count charge while Nathaniel was arraigned on a 14-count charge.

    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/110/2022, filed by the ICPC, through its lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimsingha, Ita was said to have diverted part of the funds paid for a contract awarded to a group, Radiant Women Association.

    In count one, Ita was accused to have, sometime in September, 2018 or thereabout, indirectly took possession of the sum of N22,400,000. 00. through his First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Account Number: 0542393012, received from the Zenith Bank account of one Solomon Eyarebe & Ebikebina,.

    The money was said to form part of the payment of the N45,000,000. 00 made to Radiant Women Association for a purported contract to wit: “Workshop for Youth Restiveness in Cross River State” awarded by NDDC through the Department of Community & Rural Development was made.

    In the count, he was alleged to have committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

    Also in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/CR/168/2022 filed against Nathaniel, he was accused of committing the alleged offence between 2015 and 2019.

    After their not guilty plea, Justice Abubakar granted N50million bail to Ita with one surety who must own a property within Abuja.

    The judge ruled that the certificate of occupancy of the property, which should be verified by the registrar, would be deposited at the court registry.

    Abubakar ordered that Ita be remanded in the custody of the ICPC pending when he meets the bail condition and adjourned the matter until Oct. 25 for trial.

    However, the judge fixed hearing of Nathaniel’s bail plea for Wednesday and ordered him to be remanded at the commission’s custody.

  • ICPC urges community, religious leaders to join anti-corruption fight

    ICPC urges community, religious leaders to join anti-corruption fight

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged community and religious leaders to support the anti-corruption fight at the grassroots level.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said the war should be taken to the communities through the enthronement of intergrity, transparency and accountability among the people.

    He spoke in Owerri at a workshop on behavioural change, national ethics and integrity policy and constituency projects tracking initiative.

    It was organised by the commission for traditional and religious leaders as well as community-based civil society groups.

    Owasanoye, represented by the​ South-East member on the ICPC board, Sen. Anthony Agbo, said that all hands must be on deck for the anti-corruption war to succeed.

    He identified the endemic corruption level as the root of the country’s problem, from insecurity to poor infrastructure development.

    He alleged that the biggest cases of corruption in Nigeria “are perpetrated by civil servants in active service and not politicians as erroneously believed”.

    Owasanoye argued that crimes, such as budget padding and project duplication, “are some of the ways corruption is proliferated in the civil service and resources misappropriated”.

    He, therefore, urged community and religious leaders​ to keep track of government’s projects​ in their areas and the funds appropriated for them for transparency and accountability.

    He further urged them to use their influence to bring about the desired behavioural change and promote the national ethics and intergrity policy.

    The ICPC boss also challenged more whistleblowers to expose persons engaged in coruption in order to arrest the situation before it degenerates.

    In a presentation,​ the Imo Resident Anti-corruption Commissioner, Mr Peter Alumbugu, charged community and religious leaders to rid their communities of corrupt tendencies through behavioural change strategies.

    Alumbugu further urged them to closely monitor corrupt practices and transparency issues and report observed infractions to the anti-graft agency without delay.

    He also advised them to thoroughly study and review the​ operational systems in procurement and implementation of public projects and encourage community members to participate actively in execution monitoring.

    He said that the commission had been proactive in preventing and eradicating the diversion of public funds in the implementation of public-funded projects.

    Alumbugu said this was being done through collation and analysis of suspicious projects, which were tracked and properly investigated, leading to enforcement and possible prosecution of those involved.

    He said the effort had led to significant improvement and impact on the works of various implementing agencies and a higher percentage of projects executed to specification.

    The workshop also featured a paper entitled, “Advancing the core values of the national ethics and integrity policy for behavioural change: the role of traditional and religious leaders.”

    The presenter, an Assistant Director in the commission, Mrs Chinwe Egbeocha, urged participants to imbibe the values of the policy, teach others and collaborate with ICPC and other similar agencies.

    Also, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs Maureen Oparaji, pledged the support of the agency in promoting the vision and activities of ICPC

  • ICPC raises alarm over diversion of public funds

    ICPC raises alarm over diversion of public funds

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) raised the alarm on Thursday in Abuja about the diversion of public funds.

    ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasannoye, raised the alarm at a two-day capacity-building workshop for members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.

    He frowned at the diversion of public funds, both in revenue receipts and expenditure, while condemning illicit financial flow, misapplication of funds and budget padding.

    He said it was time corruption was confronted headlong, adding that Nigerians were yet to recognise the death knell that corruption meant.

    He warned that if citizens did not deal with the ethical issues of corruption, it would further impact negatively on the country.

    Owasannoye noted that Nigerian was never in short supply of anti-corruption legislation but in short supply of integrity.

    He noted also that this had been worsened by high level hypocrisy.

    According to him, the CBN, the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, are all anti-corruption gate keepers.

    He stated that most regulatory agencies also played anti-corruption roles.

    Owasannoye observed that corruption accentuated political patronage and encouraged sabotage of governance, stressing that funds appropriated on paper, were never used for the purpose for which they were meant.

    In his remarks, Rep. Shehu Garba, Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, noted that the challenge and the fight against corruption had remained a topical issue.

    He said that the ills of corruption had been well documented, adding that Nigerians did not need to be reminded of the consequences.

    Garba added that corruption denied citizens a promising future and development, adding that it was heart-warming when the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration made the fight against corruption one of its tasks.

    He said that the fight against corruption remained multi-dimensional; involving all institutions, adding that there would be no success without collaboration.

    The lawmaker added that information sharing and capacity building workshops were crucial in the fight against corruption.

    In his contribution, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, Director-General, National Institute for Legislative Studies commended the National Assembly for the continuous building of staff capacity.

    This, he said, had reflected in the 9th assembly, especially in the way it took the issue of the fight against corruption seriously.

    He added that the workshop was important as the current Federal Government administration winds down.

    Suleiman stressed that corruption also fuelled instability and conflicts.

    He noted that there had been allegations of non-payment of allowances of security operatives, which according to him, undermines the fight against insecurity.

    “Corruption undermines security and human capacity development,’’ he stressed.

    Marija Peran, the Resident Representative, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German political foundation, decried the complex security challenges and corruption in the security sector.

    She said that corruption in the security sector had a detrimental impact, both on security apparatuses and on wider peace and security.

    Peran said the German foundation’s core mandate was to strengthen good democratic governance and the rule of law, adding that the fight against corruption was an integral part of its mandate.

  • ICPC reveals how govt. agencies steal public funds

    ICPC reveals how govt. agencies steal public funds

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) Thursday made damning revelations that some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government are habitually duplicating projects to siphon public funds.

    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, gave the revelation on Thursday before the Senate Committee on Finance sitting in Abuja.

    The anti-graft agency boss explained that the MDAs padded 2021 budget with N300 billion in duplicated projects, while the 2022 budget with N100 billion duplicated projects, adding that the Commission had tracked N49.9 billion ghost workers salary between Jan to June 2022.

    Detailing how some Chief Executives perfect their stealing strategy, the ICPC boss disclosed that projects worth N100 billion were inserted into the N17.12 trillion 2022 budget by some MDAs aside N49.9 billion tracked as salary for ghost workers between January and June this year.

    He said the commission was able to track the projected slush fund as a result of its thorough scrutiny of approved projects for the various MDAs.

    He said they were poised for proactive nipping of their plans rather than allowing funds to be stolen before going after them, stressing that funds already stolen were not easily recovered.

    He noted: “The same preemptive move saved the country from spending N49.9 billion for salaries of ghost workers put on fictitious pay rolls by the fraudulent MDAs between January and June this year.

    “Names of MDAs involved in project duplications running into intercepted billions of naira and fictitious pay rolls, are available and will be forwarded to the Committee.

    “The good thing about the preemptive moves made by us is that monies for the fraudulent acts were prevented from being released to the affected MDAs and it is gratifying that the Finance Ministry and Accountant General Office cooperated with us.”

    He advised relevant committees of the National Assembly to be on the lookout for such project duplication in the proposed N19.76 trillion 2023 budget to be presented by President Muhammadu Buhari anytime soon.

    Reacting, the Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan lamented that leakages and waste has been the biggest challenge the nation has been facing.

    He vowed that the parliament would not give up to the antics of fraudsters, noting that they will stop at nothing to ensure that any Chief Executive found culpable was prosecuted.

  • 2023: ICPC wont work on politically motivated petitions – Chairman

    2023: ICPC wont work on politically motivated petitions – Chairman

    Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned politicians against frivolous corruption petitions against their opponents.

    The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye gave the warning on Friday in Abuja while hosting the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the Commission’s Headquarters.

    Owasanoye said the ICPC will not work on politically motivated petitions.

    “Usually when the season for competition comes, there is a spike in politically motivated petitions for wild-goose chase.

    “Some are brazen enough to tell you that “we should make sure to stop Mr A from contesting” and they will bring a petition forward.

    “That is not our job, and we will not get involved in those things. We pack those type of petitions aside basically.

    “Even if there is implication of merit within the complaint, we will say “go and compete first”. We are not going to be the ones to be used to give you fair or unfair advantage.

    “When the competition is over, we will decide on the merit or otherwise of what you have brought forward”.

    He, however, explained that ICPC has an existing understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on how to go about genuine electoral petitions when the need arises.

    “We do have an understanding with INEC that in cases where contestants challenge each other in court and the decision says somebody forged a certificate for example, INEC will send those things to us. We are prosecuting a few of them at the moment.

    “Those are ways we will add value without compromising ourselves or exposing our officers to the compromise and desperation of politicians during the contest.” he said.

    The ICPC boss challenged political parties to conduct thorough check of their candidates in the interest of the nation, adding that the fortune of any nation depended on the type of leaders it gets.

    “The he pruning process should start with political parties, charity should begin at home, he added.

    Earlier, Chairman of IPAC, Mr Yabagi Sani, said that the visit was to enhance collaboration with the anti-graft agency in ensuring that politicians with questionable characters were not elected into office.

    “The activities that will lead to the emergence of a government that will preside over the affairs of this nation is something that all stakeholders must buy into so as to have a free, fair and credible election come 2023.

    “Politics is management of crisis and we believe that if we can get the recruitment of leadership right, which will come from due diligence we are expected to carry out, the leaders will conduct themselves in a manner that will give this country the kind of respect we expect in the comity of nations.

    “That is by ensuring that governance is free from all shades of corruption,” Yabagi said.