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Tag: Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC)

  • ICPC recovers N.325m for defrauded job-seeker

    ICPC recovers N.325m for defrauded job-seeker

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has recovered the sum of N325,000 lost by a job seeker, Innocent Okpanachi, to a fraudster in 2013.

    In a statement on Monday, the spokesperson of the ICPC, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, said the commission had returned the money to Okpanachi.

    Okoduwa said that Okpanachi was defrauded by one Mohammed Habib, who posed as a senior officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    According to her, Habib obtained the money through a third party, now at large with the promise to secure a job for his victim him with the NCS.

    “After receiving the money, the suspect allegedly issued Okpanachi an employment letter, which was later confirmed fake by authorities of the Service.

    “Okpanachi later petitioned the ICPC after trying unsuccessfully to recover his money from Habib over a period of four years.

    “The commission promptly swung into action and investigations revealed that the suspect had indeed fraudulently obtained the money from his victim.

    “The said amount was recovered from the suspect and then handed over to the petitioner,’’ she said.

    Okpanachi reportedly beamed with excitement as the money was handed to him by Mr Tunji Jabaru of the Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Unit of the ICPC.

    The petitioner, who said he had lost hope of recovering the money, expressed gratitude to the commission for the “wonderful job’’.

  • ICPC plans grassroots training on budget tracking

    ICPC plans grassroots training on budget tracking

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is to train citizens at the grassroots on budget tracking in an effort to make budget to respond to people’s needs.

    The ICPC’s spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, said in Abuja on Thursday that the commission had concluded plans for the training.

    She said that the training, to be sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), would begin in June across the six geo-political zones of the country.

    According to Okoduwa, the training will also enable people at the grassroots to take actions that will impact positively on them.

    She added that it would ensure that it would demystify the budget process and engender development at the grassroots.

    “The outcome should be a citizenry empowered with confidence, skills and knowledge to recognise their rights and accept responsibility to demand those rights through constructive engagement,” Okoduwa said.

  • Federal University, Birnin Kebbi gets anti-corruption committee

    Federal University, Birnin Kebbi gets anti-corruption committee

    The North-West zonal office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Wednesday inaugurated an Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at the Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi.

    Mr Olusegun Adigun, the Zonal Commissioner, in a brief speech at the ceremony, charged the 6-member unit to be vigilant and ensure transparency and accountability in the university’s activities.

    “We are not suggesting that the institution has not been transparent in its activities; we only want to emphasise that the committee should be watchful,” he said.

    He advised members to thoroughly investigate petitions received, and stressed the need to invite those affected to respond to the allegations.

    Dr. Sahabi Jabo, the acting Vice Chancellor, in his remarks, advised the committee to be fair and uphold equity.

    “There should be no discrimination in the quest to eradicate corruption. There will be no sacred cows,” he said.

    The Chairman of the unit, Dr. Sirajo Abdulrahman, promised that the committee would work toward preventing corrupt practices, and pledged to be fair to all.

  • FBI, U.S. Justice Department offer support to ICPC

    FBI, U.S. Justice Department offer support to ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has received an offer of support from the U.S. Government to enhance its operations.

    The offer, according to a statement posted on the ICPC website, is specifically coming from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice.

    A team of officials from both organs of the U.S. government made the proposal during a visit to the ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, in Abuja, the commission said.

    It said the team comprised Special Agent Pamela Bergren of the FBI; Scott Thorley of the U.S. Department of Justice; Special Agent John Wilson of the FBI and Legal Attache, U.S. Embassy, Nigeria; and Jim Oscar of the FBI.

    Wilson was quoted as saying that the team would like to organise a mentorship programme for investigators and prosecutors of the commission.

    He emphasised that the involvement of prosecutors in the investigation process of a case from start to finish would greatly improve the chances of successful prosecutions.

    The special agent reportedly noted that the team had been working with other anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.

    He added that the proposed mentorship would help the officers of the commission to achieve timely case management and save resources that would have been otherwise wasted.

    Responding, the ICPC chairman, represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr Elvis Oglafa, solicited the assistance of the U.S. in its operations.

    Nta said the commission would welcome any idea that would improve its prosecutorial and investigative processes as well as the various preventive strategies in its anti-corruption campaign.

     

  • ICPC vindicates Aregbesola of alleged corrupt practice

    ICPC vindicates Aregbesola of alleged corrupt practice

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence‎s Commission (ICPC) has described the petition of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State against Governor Rauf Aregbesola as baseless and unsubstantiated.

    The ICPC, in a letter with reference number ICPC/INV/NGB/T.E2/003, addressed to the petitioner, Chairman, Civil Society Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State, with a copy sent to the Osun Secretary to the State Government, stated that it’s investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated.

    The commission stated that having diligently investigated the allegations and finding nothing against Governor Aregbesola, the allegations have been dismissed.

    The Government, through the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, reminded Nigerians that the ICPC’s final decision was a vindication of the repeated claims by the government that the group was one of individuals hired for the purpose of tarnishing its name.

    ICPC, in the letter titled, Re: Petition against Osun State Governor- Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, for criminal and reckless mismanagement of Osun State funds since November 2010 to August 2015 held that all of the allegations brought forward have been looked into conclusively with no infraction substantiated.

    According to ICPC, “The above case bordering on fraudulent diversion of N11.4 billion obtained through Osun SUKUK bond to private foreign account, money meant for building of schools regardless of the N13.9 billion intervention funds from. The Federal Government through UBEC for the purpose of building classrooms has been investigated conclusively with no infraction substantiated.

    “An investigation of‎ the above allegations confirmed that Osun State government raised N11.344 billion from the issue of the SUKUK bond through Nigerian commercial banks. Investigation also revealed that after the issue of the bond, Osun State Government sought and got approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Shariah Board of Lotus Capital Ltd. To amend the schedule of schools to be constructed from 27 mixed schools to 11 high schools and to furnish the schools. The approval of SUKUK holders is still pending.

    “Also contrary to the allegation that the SUKUK proceed was diverted to private foreign account, it was disbursed from Osun SUKUK company accounts with 13 Collecting Nigerian Commercial banks and used for payments of contractors awarded the contracts of construction and furnishing of 11 senior Secondary Schools in various part of Osun State.

    “Furthermore, contrary to the allegation that N13.9 billion was disbursed by UBEC to Osun State, the total of N7,192,585,041.64 has been disbursed to Osun SUBEB for the period 2011-2015. This amount consists of Universal Basic Education matching grants, Special Education Funds, Teachers Professional Development Fund and state’s counterpart funds lodgement in line with UBE Act 2004.

    “In view of the above paragraphs, investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated. Therefore the matter is hereby laid to rest”. The Commission said.

    The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stating the Government’s position over the outcome of the ICPC’s investigations, said the Aregbesola government was never in doubt that the group was an illegal one which was only being used by traducers of the administration to diminish its many achievements.

    “When the so-called group was everywhere making its highly irresponsible and frivolous allegations, we never minced words on the fact that it was an unregistered group of few disgruntled, hired individuals to tarnish the image of the government and seek to diminish the massive good governance initiatives that are the hallmarks of our interventions here.

    “The ICPC’s dismissal of the frivolous allegations is a vindication of our earlier position on the group and other collaborators in their ignoble campaigns of calumny.

    “The Aregbesola administration has instituted the most transparent, people friendly government in its six years and more and we do not intend to depart from this path. This is because we are convinced in this lies the brighter future of our dear state,” Okanlawon added.

  • Sokoto SSG calls for intense fight against corruption

    Sokoto SSG calls for intense fight against corruption

    The  people have been urged to join in the fight against corruption for the rapid development of the state.

    The Secretary to the Sokoto State Government,  Prof. Bashar Garba,made the call at the 6th World Anti-Corruption Day rally organised by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday in Sokoto.

    “We will fight corruption with all our strength and where we cannot do that by our strength, then we will do that by resorting to prayers.

    “We find corruption at all learning levels from the primary schools to the tertiary level, through examination malpractices,’’ he said.

    Garba said the state government was ready to fight corruption at all levels to develop the state.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals and a former member, State House of Assembly, said the fight against corruption in the state had brought changes to the ministries.

    Goronyo said there had been a lot of changes in the ministries.

    He urged the people to help in the fight against corruption for the betterment of the state and country.

    Mr Bulus Mai, Commissioner, ICPC Sokoto, said that the debilitating and negative impact of corruption had triggered insecurity and conflict in Nigeria and other developing economies.

    “We are all living witnesses to the negative effects of bribery and corruption in our land.

    “The collapsed infrastructure, the dearth of health services, lack of clean and potable water, poor educational facilities, hunger and want, result in corruption.’’ he said

    Mai said the greatest hindrance to fighting against corruption in the country was the absence of `third eye’ and fundamental lack of unity of purpose, which generated conflict and insecurity.

    He urged Nigerians to help fight against corruption for a better and well -developed society.

  • Stolen funds: U.S. reiterates commitment

    Stolen funds: U.S. reiterates commitment

    The United States Government has again reiterated its commitment to assist Nigeria in recovering stolen funds from past administrations.

    Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Mr David Young, gave the reassurance at an event to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja on Thursday.

    “We know the recovery of stolen assets which are in the U.S and in other countries is an important part of that effort.

    “We are committed to partnering with the Nigerian Government, moving forward.

    Young said that the repatriation of the stolen funds was a “systemic effort that would take time adding that there were legal obligations that had to be met.

    The deputy head of mission also reiterated that corruption impacted negatively on governance and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    He further said the government had a variety of means in place to fight corruption and was committed to working with Nigeria.

    He said the event, organised by the embassy, would result in an honest dialogue that would evaluate the country’s progress in the fight against corruption.

    Participants at the event also called on Nigerians not to see the war against corruption as the government’s responsibility alone.

    They also called for enhanced cooperation among institutions responsible for maintaining law and order.

    Mr Gbolahan Latona, Head of the Legal Department, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said fighting corruption should be holistic.

    Latona added that inter-agency cooperation was important in tackling corruption.

    “All hands are welcome to fight this scourge,” he said.

    Commission Secretary, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Elvis Oglafa, said it was important to have a national anti-corruption goal.

    Oglafa called for strict anti-corruption measures to be put in place to ensure the actualisation of the SDGs.

    “Corruption is not our problem; our major problem is education; we are talking about systems that should work.

    “Corruption is the impediment to SDGs, that’s why we are saying the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau are not enough.”

    Participants at the event were drawn from the legislature, the judiciary and civil society.

  • ICPC academy equipped with digital learning facilities — Chairman

    ICPC academy equipped with digital learning facilities — Chairman

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has equipped its Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) with digital learning facilities, says its Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta.

    Nta said this at Keffi, Nasarawa State, during an inspection tour of facilities at the academy.

    The academy is the research and training arm of ICPC with remote teaching and learning capacity.

    Nta said that the academy was established to reduce the cost of training programme abroad by Nigerians.

    He commended the management of the academy for the significant progress recorded since the training programme commenced.

    The chairman said that facilities such as hostels, guest houses, auditorium, computer centre and other e-learning facilities had been provided at the academy for conducive activities.

    The ICPC boss said the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre at the academy was established with technical assistance from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    He said the academy was currently accommodating JAMB candidates for CBT , adding that the idea was to ensure transparency in the conduct of the tests.

    “With the facilities, we have in CBT centre, we can assure you that no candidate can cheat without being caught because activities in the hall can be monitored even outside the academy.

    “With our e-learning facilities, our resource persons can be anywhere in the world to teach our trainees.”

    He said that ICPC had since the commencement of activities at the academy adopted the use of CBT for its promotion examinations.

  • Court rules on alleged fake doctor’s case October 31

    Court rules on alleged fake doctor’s case October 31

    An FCT High Court, Apo, will deliver ruling on October 31 in suit against a fake doctor, Ugwu Martins, for alleged making false statement to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had slammed an eight-count charge against Martins bordering on false statements and impersonation on June 28, 2015.

    Justice Abubakar Idris-Kutigi fixed the date on Monday after the Defence Counsel, Oghenovo Otemu, argued his preliminary objection dated May 20.

    Otemu, who also adopted his written address, urged the court to strike out the charges against Martins because same proceeding was going on at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He further said that Martins was charged with forgery, stealing and impersonation by the Inspector –General of Police.

    “The proof of evidence attached to both charges against the defendant is also the same and the offences are both punishable under the ICPC Act and Penal Code.

    “The languages and laws used are the only differences but the offences are the same,” he said.

    The prosecutor, Akponimisingha Osuobeni, who adopted written address dated May 31, argued that Martins had not been convicted in any of the courts yet.

    Osuobeni also said that Otemu had not shown to the court that the trial of the defendant was going on in any Federal High Court, adding that Otemu’s application was misconceived.

    “The preliminary objection is a distraction, and I urge the court to hold our position that the charges against the defendant in the Federal High Court are not the same with that of this court,’’ he said

    The ICPC had charged Martins with making false statement to the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission and presented educational certificates of Dr George Davidson to gain employment.

    Martins, however, gained employment to the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, and earned salaries and allowances from Sept. 21 2006 to May 31, 2015 to the tune of N17.02 million

    The defendant claimed he was the next of kin to Davidson and also Davidson himself.

    He also applied for a staff Identity card with the name from the ministry and applied to participate in the 2014, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme.

    The defendant applied for updates of his promotion arrears, annual leave, and casual leave with the name.

    The offences contravened Section 25(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and Section 132 of the Penal Code.

  • Alleged N2.3b diversion: Orubebe, others get N50m bail

    Alleged N2.3b diversion: Orubebe, others get N50m bail

    …..Trial opens November 10

     

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has granted bail at N50million to former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe and two others arraigned before it Wednesday morning.

    Godsday Orubebe, Oludare Lawrence Alaba an Assistant Director, Ministry of Niger Delta Affiars), Ephraim Tewolde Zeri (Director of Contracts in Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited) and the company were arraigned on a six-count charge marked: CR/265/2016.

    They are, in the charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), accused among others, of diverting about N2.3b meant for the compensation of property owners to be affected by the Federal Government’s dualisation project of Section IV of the East West Road.

    Orubebe and others pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which Justice Kayode Adeniyi granted the ex-Minister bail at N10m and one surety, who must be a responsible Nigerian, resident in Abuja and must show evidence of regular tax payment.

    The judge granted Alaba and Zeri bail at N20m and one surety each, who are to be residents in Abuja.

    He said Alaba’s surety must be an Assistant Director in any Federal Government’s agency, while Zeri’s surety must own property in Abuja and show evidence of ownership.

    Justice Adeniyi ordered the defendants to be kept in ICPC’s custody pending when they are able to process the bail granted them.

    He adjourned to November 10 for commencement of trial.