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Tag: ICPC

  • We are not probing Jigawa Government, says ICPC

    We are not probing Jigawa Government, says ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) yesterday said it is not probing Jigawa State Government.

    It said it is only conducting a system study and review to assist parastatals in the state to perform well.

    The commission made the clarification in a statement by its Resident Consultant (Media and Event), Mr. Folu Olamiti.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been drawn to uninformed reports in some newspapers with different headlines suggesting that ICPC is probing Jigawa State Government for political reasons.

    “The Commission’s Research Staff were in Jigawa State for a routine Systems Study and Review which is meant to help Agencies being reviewed to strengthen their operational systems and avoid future infractions which would attract investigation and criminal prosecution.

    “Similar System reviews were successfully carried out in Kebbi and Katsina States and it did not attract any coloration or innuendo.

    “Local Government Councils in other States had in the past benefited from such exercises. Indeed, Kogi State House of Assembly had passed laws to aid local government administration as a result of ICPC System Studies conducted on Adavi Local Government Council in 2012.

    “ICPC has three-pronged approaches to tackling the problem of corruption, namely the Prevention, Enforcement, and Public Education/Enlightenment.

    “Section 6(b) of the ICPC Act 2000 mandates the Commission to “ examine the practices, systems or procedures of public bodies and where, in the opinion of the commission such practices, systems or procedures aid or facilitate fraud or corruption to direct and supervise or review of them.”

  • ‘Over 50 firms to be prosecuted for presenting false documents’

    ‘Over 50 firms to be prosecuted for presenting false documents’

    The Director-General of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh, yesterday said the names of over 50 companies have been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and possible prosecution for a presenting false documents to get contracts.

    Eze addressed reporters in Abuja after signing an agreement with the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    He said: “On Friday (November 8), I signed off another letter to the EFCC and ICPC, listing over 50 companies that tried to get government jobs through the use of forged documents, because the use of fake document is a crime.

    “Some people make false claims about their capacity. They are the people who shout the greatest and who don’t even know what a cubic metre of concrete is. They will quote either ridiculously low. Then, when they don’t get the job, they begin to shout on top of their roofs.”

     

  • ICPC not investigating us, says PPPRA

    ICPC not investigating us, says PPPRA

    The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has dismissed the allegation that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC )is investigating ome perceived infractions in the agency.

    The Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr Reginald Stanley, described the allegation as farce, malicious and a smear campaign.

    Stanley, who spoke to reporters in Abuja yesterday, said: “PPPRA hereby unequivocally states that the news making the rounds is a figment of the imagination of the people peddling it.”

    He added : “The agency is not under any investigation whatsoever by the ICPC or any anti-corruption agency for that matter. “The public is hereby assured that the allegations in the publications are completely false and a violation of the code of ethics of journalism, which enjoins journalists to refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information.

    “Nigerians are aware that the Federal Government through the Minister of Petroleum Resources has put measures in place that consistently prevented corruption in the downstream in recent years.

    “This has enabled government to save a whopping N409 billion in subsidy claims in 2012 alone from reduction in volume from 60.25 million litres a day in 2011 to 39.66 million litres a day in 2012.

    “We achieved up to 67 per cent reduction in the number of participants in the subsidy scheme, ensuring that only owners of downstream facilities participated in the scheme. This resulted to a reduction from 128 marketers in 2011 to 38 marketers in 2012. We also took steps to boost the Local Content Initiative of government by encouraging indigenous participation in downstream activities and this has attracted investments to the Nigerian economy in excess of N60 billion in the past 18 months.

    “Our resolve to support the Minister of Petroleum Resources to make the difference has naturally attracted odium, hatred and campaigns of calumny in some quarters, giving rise to headless chickens.

    “Allegations that PPPRA management is under investigation is completely false and we hereby re-assure the public that no amount of intimidation or smear campaign can make us to derail in our resolve to serve our fatherland with integrity and honesty of purpose.

    ‘‘The entire allegation is bunkum, crafted merely to destroy reputations but we shall remain focused in our goal to make the difference in sanitising the downstream. Stanley said that the PPPRA had often been unduly attacked by blackmailers, mischief makers and disgruntled elements, wanting to take their pound of flesh on the management of the agency for refusing to toe the wrong line in executing its mandate.

    “The PPPRA under its current leadership remains a responsible organisation, committed to enthroning transparency, accountability and international best practices in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.“The discerning public is hereby enjoined to continue to support the agency in its efforts at enthroning a transparent, accountable and effective supply and distribution system in the downstream.’’

  • ICPC investigates five Imo officials over alleged N74.1b scam

    ICPC investigates five Imo officials over alleged N74.1b scam

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said it has begun the probe of some government officials in Imo State for alleged misappropriation of N74.1billion

    The fraud bothers on the alleged misappropriation of N1.15billion for three roads in Owerri Municipality and N73billion belonging to the 27 local governments.

    Also, the anti-graft agency is looking into the allegation of financial impropriety leveled against a former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso, who was impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly on 26, February 13.

    According to a statement in Abuja by its Resident Consultant(Media and Event), Mr. Folu Olamiti, the ongoing probe was informed by two petitions it received from some citizens including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria(ALGON).

    The two petitions were dated December 17, 2012 and 26th March 26, this year.

    The commission said it has quizzed five out of the 12 officials and agencies invited in connection with the fraud.

    Those grilled were the Clerk, Imo State House of Assembly; the Branch Manager of Zenith Bank Plc.; Branch Manager of Guarantee Trust Bank Plc; Accountant-General and the Commissioner for Finance.

    Seven others, who are yet to show up, include the Secretary to the State Government; the Principal Secretary to the State Governor; the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources; the Commissioner for Works; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Commissioner for Local Government. The Branch Manager of Diamond Bank Plc, Owerri is also yet to show up.

    The statement said: “The ICPC has launched a full-scale investigation into allegations of corruption leveled against top government functionaries in Imo State.

    “The investigations were predicated on two petitions filed before it from the state, one of which it affirmed, revolved round alleged misappropriation of N73 billion belonging to 27 local governments in the state.

    “The second petition revolved round the allegation of financial impropriety leveled against the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso, who was impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly on 13 February, 2013.

    “Preliminary investigations by ICPC operatives had indicated that the State Government awarded a contract to JPROS International Nigeria Limited for the construction of three roads within Owerri Municipality at a cost of N1.15billion.

    “This indication trails an earlier protest by women in Imo state against the process of investigations being conducted by ICPC in the State, starting with interrogation of government officials fingered in the allegations.

    “ICPC had opened a case file on the alleged misappropriation of a contract sum on road project running into N300 million and over which the former deputy Speaker of the State, Jude Agbaso was impeached.

    The anti-graft agency found out at the Corporate Affairs Commission based on the records of incorporation that an Imo state government official, Prince Akanno, was linked to JPROS International Nigeria Ltd, being a serving director of company

    “Prince Akanno, according to ICPC was the Special Assistant to the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and also Chairman, Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road Projects in Imo State.”

  • Council chief seeks higher revenue allocation

    Council chief seeks higher revenue allocation

    The Chairman of the Patani Local Government Area in Delta State, Mr Chris Ekiyor has called for increased revenue allocation to local government area to enable them to meet their obligations to the people at the grassroots.

    Ekiyor, who made the call in a chat with newsmen in Benin, said that funds allocated to the councils every month were not adequate for the councils to meet their financial obligations.

    He cited payment of teachers’ salaries as one area that was taking large chunk of the resources of the local governments.

    The council chief noted that local government councils had to contend with the salaries of a large workforce because they were the leading employers of labour at the grassroots.

    Ekiyor further said that due to the huge wage bills being paid by the councils, they were left with little resources to undertake developmental projects.

    He said it was not true that the councils were under-performing due to corruption among the leadership of the councils.

    According to him, council administration is the most scrutinised among the three tiers of government.

    “The councils are monitored by the governors’ offices, House of Assembly, the States’ Accountant Generals’ offices, Local Governments auditors, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other institutions,” he said.

    He called for the removal of the payment of teachers’ salaries from the list of responsibilities of the councils.

    “In fact, the payment of teachers’ salaries should be completely removed from the purview of councils. Why pay salaries of persons you have no control over?

    “The councils have no power to employ, discipline or sanction teachers, yet we pay their salaries.

    “The Federal Government should take up the responsibility of payment of teachers’ salaries under a special project or pass it to the states.

    “If it is the responsibility of councils, then they should decide on how many schools they can operate and manage within the limit of the resources they have,’’ he said.

  • ICPC’s shadow boxing

    ICPC’s shadow boxing

    “ICPC: Madness without method,” that was Hardball’s original, cut-to-fit headline for this piece but because he would loath to be misconstrued as disrespectful and indecorous he demurred at the last minute, to his utter discomfiture, to change to the above title. But the discarded title better captures what the Independent Corrupt Practices (and other offences) Commission, ICPC has set about doing lately. There is no doubt that the ICPC would be utterly bored by its sedate and passive nature over the years. But worse, it must be so weary by now living under the large shadows of its better favored and much fancied cousin, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Could this be the reason why ICPC has chosen to act up, flex muscle and call some attention to its self? The story emanating from the graft body is that it has launched a manhunt for corrupt senior civil servants across the country. Based on tip-offs and petitions, ICPC has moved against some senior civil servants seizing their houses, cash and even cars. About 94 houses have been confiscated so far from itchy-fingered officers. A particular unnamed civil servant has a haul of 62 houses all to his name. But sorry to say that in the exertions of the ICPC, the total value of seized items including houses, vehicles and cash comes to a paltry N1.2 billion.

    Which is why Hardball thinks ICPC must quit this shadow boxing and get more methodical in carrying out the enormous responsibility conferred on it; you cannot fight corruption by fighting shy and creating room for even more sleaze. Clearly, there are a few things wrong with ICPC’s current approach. First, it is based on petition which of course is fraught with danger of witch-hunt and peer envy. Two, ICPC is dissipating energy hunting down hapless, small fries while the big guns loot the treasury with impunity. Hardball would wager that probably 90 percent of the cadre targeted is corrupt anyway because they work in cahoots with their ‘ogas at the top’. So even if ICPC exhausted its resources and time on this chase, it will never make any dent on the war against graft. Third, why is ICPC not naming and shaming the culprits? Why are properties being confiscated and disposed of without trial? Finally this ill-conceived approach will sooner damage the commission because it lacks transparency, it is sure to be abused as it immediately creates room for extortion and under the table deals by ICPC officials. It is not unlike what transpires in the EFCC where operatives storm state and local council officials, haul them to Lagos or Abuja only to strike deals, set them free and bury the matter.

    What ICPC can do? It must strive to catch the big thieves and the small fries will either be cut off or be deterred. It must look out for the big ticket case for instance, Information Minister, Labaran Maku announced rather gleefully recently that the Jonathan administration has so far busted 46,000 ghost workers thereby saving the country about N119 billion. This is job enough for ICPC to find those who have been drawing this humongous sum from MDAs over the years. It can also follow the big contracts as they are awarded; and fraud-prone areas like pension funds and indeed all other trust funds where cheap money are spent so cheaply by those charged to manage them. It can also start where the auditors-general across the country stop by simply picking up these reports and asking questions.

    ICPC may also go the way of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS): have every top civil servant and political appointee fill the assets form and annually, randomly pick a few and run detailed investigation. This is the ultimate deterrence because each year, every key official has a chance of being put through the grill.

    If ICPC and the other graft agencies work a bit smarter and with some honesty, corruption would not be this pervasive.

  • Stakeholders urge probe by EFCC, others

    Stakeholders urge probe by EFCC, others

    Stakeholders in the Aviation industry have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the sector.

    They said this would save it from glaring corruption.

    The stakeholders spoke against the backdrop of the controversy on the N255 million armoured cars allegedly bought for Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    A former National Secretary of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, said the Aviation sector needed the intervention of the anti-graft agencies now than ever.

    He said: “It is a sad situation, because we have never had this level of corruption in this industry. The corruption in the Aviation Ministry is huge. It is not only the NCAA that bought such vehicles.

    “That is why we are asking the anti-graft agencies to investigate the aviation corporations. It is not only the minister that is involved.

    “If somebody asked you to do something illegal, why not resign, instead of doing it?”

    Tukur, however, said he had faith in the capacity of President Goodluck Jonathan to address the matter.

    But he warned that should he shield the minister from prosecution, if she was found culpable of corruption, it would affect the image of his administration.

    The National Cabin Crew Association (NACCA) has expressed shock over the armoured cars’ controversy.

    It noted that even if the minister needed to address the issue of security, the cost of the vehicles was indefensible.

    NACCA’s National President Charles Onuoha said the group was on the verge of honouring the minister for her role in remodelling the airports when news of the armoured cars broke out.

    He said: “We were planning to honour the minister on October 25. While we were waiting for approval, the controversy over the armoured cars filtered in.

    “We are pained that it happened; we felt embarrassed by what happened.”

    Another stakeholder, who spoke in confidence, wondered why some Igbo youths had been supporting the minister.

    He noted that it was unfortunate that tribalism had been allowed to creep into the matter.

    According to him, a verdict is yet to be passed on the minister but her kinsmen are threatening fire and brimstone.

    He said: “Why are we tribalising everything in this country? If what the minister did is found to be true, it is criminal and the law should be allowed to take its course?”

  • ICPC seeks strategies of public processes to cage corruption

    THE Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Barrister Ekpo Nta, has called for the design of public processes to reduce the propensity to steal and access to cash, which cannot be easily tracked.

    Nta made the call at a public policy lecture tagged: “God-given wealth, man-made poverty and the rule of law” organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy (OAIGPP) in Lagos.

    He noted that it was better “to find a permanent cure for eradicating ‘social mosquitoes’ instead of always spending money to treat ‘social malaria’ which takes away our God-given wealth.”

    Speaking on a three-fold mandate of the commission: Investigation/Prosecution, System-Study and Review and Public Enlightenment/Education, Nta said: “the aims and objectives of this Institute are in consonance with what Nigeria, and ICPC, would need to tackle the perceived and real causes of corruption in our society.”

    According to him: “No amount of shouting from a mother-hen will stop the ‘hawk from continuing to steal, kill and eat its chicks’ except they stop feeding in the open field.

    “We must design public processes to reduce propensity to steal and access to cash which cannot be easily tracked.”

    ICPC helmsman charged professional regulatory bodies “to rise up to the challenges of regulating and sanctioning erring members,” just as he rolled out their efforts in sectoral review.

    Nta expressed belief that the lecture would “offer social constructs and ideas that better our lot rather than promote  the cacophony of sweeping generalisation of condemnations for cheap popularity.”

     

  • ICPC arraigns three for alleged visa scam

    ICPC arraigns three for alleged visa scam

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday arraigned three men before an Abuja High Court in Maitama for their alleged complicity in visa scam.

    Kaka Dauda and Sunday Nweke (described as officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry) and their alleged accomplice, Tumbu Bartholomew were arraigned before Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf of Court Seven of the FCT High Court on a five-count charge.

    They were charged with conspiracy, forgery and making of false representation, in a bid to obtain travel visas to the United States for some others now at large.

    Augustine Osabohien, Obazee Osadolor, Inomwan Godfrey, Anifowoshe Abimbola, Adebisi Oluwafemi and Agunu Phillips were said to be at large.

    The accused in May conspired within themselves and one Dauda-all at large now, to make a false document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, titled: “ Request for note verbale “ purporting same to be from the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Abuja.

    Dauda and Nweke were accused of “making a false statement in the name of the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Abuja to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja to obtain Note verbale dated June, 6 to officially secure visas to travel to the United States of America.

    They were also accused of abetting Bartholomew , and others at large “to make a false document by intentionally facilitating the processing of a false document titled: ‘Request for Note verbale,’ purporting same to be from the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, Abuja to officially secure visas to travel to the United States of America.

    Bartholomew, in counts four and five, was said to have connived with one Obazee Osadolor to forge a staff identity card of the Ministry of Communication Technology in the name of Obazee Osadolor, a Deputy Director of the ministry, in his bid to travel to the United States of America as an official of the ministry.

    They were said to have committed the offences between June and July this year.

    The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Sections 25(1) (a), 26 (1) (a) and (c) and Section 96(1) (a) of the ICPC Act, and punishable under Sections 25(1)(b)(c), 26(1)(b) and 364 of the Act.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court granted their application for bail on learning that the ICPC had granted them administrative bail.

    Justice Baba-Yusuf granted the accused bail at N500,000 and a surety each.

    The judge ordered that both sureties must be resident within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and must produce proof of ownership of a landed property.

    The judge also ordered that should the accused failed to meet the bail conditions, they should be remanded in Kuje prison.

    He adjourned to January 20 next year.

     

  • ICPC arrests 17 fake NYSC members

    ICPC arrests 17 fake NYSC members

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested 17 fake members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the orientation camp at Kubwa, Abuja.

    They were caught while taking pictures outside the camp during the passing-out ceremonies.

    ICPC operatives stormed the camp based on intelligence reports and arrested the suspects made up of eight females and nine males.

    Fifteen of the fake corps members claimed to have enrolled in degree courses run by Consultancy Services in the following University of Calabar (6); University of Jos (6), Ebonyi State University (1), Federal University of Technology, Owerri(1) and Crown Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti (1).

    One of the other them never attended any university but said she was desirous of getting a Discharge Certificate.

    One of the other fake corps members impersonated his sister currently receiving medical treatment abroad to collect her Discharge Certificate.

    A statement by Folu Olamiti, Media Consultant of the anti-graft outfit, promised that the ICPC will continue to clampdown on corrupt persons across the nation.