The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission

  • ICPC inaugurates 100 volunteer whistleblowers in Ekiti

    ICPC inaugurates 100 volunteer whistleblowers in Ekiti

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) on Friday said more corrupt civil servants and other individuals would soon be exposed as the agency prepares to start using its volunteers as whistle blowers.
    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, said in Ado Ekiti while inaugurating the state chapter of the National Anti- Corruption Volunteer Corps, (NAVC) that no corrupt person would have a place to hide when the volunteers begin full operation.
    The ICPC boss, who was represented by the National Coordinator of the Corps, Mr. Mike Sowe said the basic job of the volunteers, includes intense mobilisation against sharp practices as well as providing scoops that would lead to the apprehension of fraudulent persons or group.
    He said the commission had realised that no country had ever won a war against corruption without making use of volunteers.
    According to him, no fewer than 500 applications were received by the commission from the state, out of which 100 applicants were selected.
    He said applicants were not expected not to be less than 25 years, must already be in gainful employment and agree that they would not be paid by ICPC for the work.
    Sowe warned the volunteers against deviating from the noble ideals of the commission and should not use their position to engage in illegal arrests, harassment or intimidation of innocent persons.
    He announced that a  training programme would be organized for all the successful volunteers to enable them to understand the nature of corruption as well as the operational guidelines of the NAVC.
    The ICPC boss said that erring volunteers would have their memberships withdrawn adding that the commission would also not hesitate to take criminal action against any abuse of position
    by any volunteer.
  • Corruption is a dream killer – ICPC

    Corruption is a dream killer – ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has described corruption as a dream killer that Nigerian children should not tolerate.

    An official of the commission, Mrs Azuka Ogugwa, said this when some students of Praxis Catholic e-School, Life Camp, Abuja, visited the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja on Friday.

    Ogugwa urged Nigerian children and youths to assist ICPC to protect their legitimate dreams and future by standing against corruption and allied vices.

    Using a pictoral PowerPoint presentation, she took the students through the rudiments of corruption including its definition, types, manifestations and effects on their lives and the society generally.

    The children exclaimed in surprise as images of dilapidated schools and hospitals, deplorable roads, slums, scenes of terror attacks, among others, rolled through the screen.

    Ogugwa said, “As you can see in these pictures, corruption can stop you from achieving your dreams! If you do not fight it, it will fight you and kill your dreams.

    “You cannot sit back and say, `It does not concern me, I am too small. My parents are giving me food.’

    “You have to stand up for the future you want. If you want that dream you have in mind to come to pass, you have to act against corruption.’’

    Ogugwa said they could do this by being honest and standing for integrity, in addition to reporting acts of corruption at homes and in schools to their parents and authorities or trusted adults.

    She also sensitised the students on what the commission is doing to stop corruption including prevention, enforcement and public enlightenment/education.

    The official enjoined school management and teachers to contribute their quota by forming anti-corruption clubs for their students and declaring their schools corruption-free zones.

    Later in an interview with newsmen, Ogugwa advised parents to set good examples for their children and inculcate good values into them with rewards and punishment when necessary.

    In separate interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some of the students, including the Head Girl of the school, Miss Miracle Anatogu, described the visit as memorable.

    “I am super excited to be here at ICPC today, because I have been hearing a lot about this commission and I didn’t know much about them and what they do as I know now.

    “So, when I get back to my school, I will pass the message to my fellow students who are not here.

    “I have decided that henceforth, no act of corruption witnessed by me will go unreported,’’ Miracle told NAN,

    High points of the event included a short drama presentation by the students.

    Ogugwa later presented a book on the National Values Curriculum developed by the ICPC to the school on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta.

     

  • Land swap: Reps order EFCC, ICPC to probe Ex- Minister, others

    Land swap: Reps order EFCC, ICPC to probe Ex- Minister, others

    The House of Representatives Thursdays ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC to investigate the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed over the FCT Land Swap Programme.

    According to the House, others to be investigated by the anti- graft agencies are Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr Adamu Ismaila and the Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center (AIIC), Mr Faruk Sani.

    The investigation is to “ascertain their culpability or otherwise in the abuse of Financial Regulations, Due Process Procedures, and ICRC regulations with regard to the Land Swap Program.”

    The position of the House was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the recommendations of the report of the Herman Hembe- headed House Committee on FCT on the Investigation of the Abandoned Capital Projects and Alleged Malpractices Associated with the Land Swap Deals in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The previous FCT administration awarded and allocated over 7,600 hectares of land to companies and individuals under the Land Swap programme.

    “The EFCC/ICPC should as a matter of urgency, recover the said lands from the investors who are in breach of the terms of the land swap agreement entered into with the FCT,” the House said.

    The green Chamber also resolved that “relevant Security/Law Enforcement Agencies should investigate and track all monies expended outside the laid down Financial Guidelines for the Program, particularly, monies paid to the FCTA Land Swap Programme Account with the FCMB Plc, and the private personal account of Mustafa Usman Kaoje, the Accountant of AIIC and any other official of FCTA and AIIC.

    “That appropriate sanctions, as contained in Part V of the Financial Regulations, 2009 of the  Federal Republic of Nigeria be meted out by the relevant authorities on any officer found to have paid/collected money in cash/cheque without proof of exemption from the Federal Government E- Payment Policy;

    “That relevant security/law enforcement agencies should recover, for the FCT, all vehicles purchased with the Land Swap Project Funds for any official of FCTA, FCDA and AIIC;

    “That relevant security and other financial regulatory agencies should investigate the role of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, in conniving with some investors to misrepresent to the AIIC as to the financial standing of those investors with accounts in the said bank.”

    The House also recommended the termination of any Investor, who failed to meet the Basic Condition for participation/eligibility in the land swap program “particularly, the provision specifying that the Investor/Developer was to make available (in a dedicated project account) the sum of ₦350,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) as a Commitment fee on presentation of its Business plan.”

    The lawmakers advised that should the FCT Administration wish to continue the program, it

    “Should follow due process, adhere to relevant laws and ensure that only the most qualified investors are chosen to participate in the programme on a phase by phase basis.”

    Meanwhile, the House commenced a two-week Id-El- Fitri break to resume on the 12th of July.

     

  • ICPC, BPE to stop stripping of privatised assets

    ICPC, BPE to stop stripping of privatised assets

    The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta has pledged the Commission’s desire to collaborate with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to protect privatized enterprises in the country from asset- stripping by the new owners.

    Speaking against  the backdrop of reported cases of asset-stripping by owners of privatised enterprises in the country, the ICPC boss commended the initiative by the BPE to partner with the Commission and assured that apart from getting involved as observers in the transaction processes of the Bureau,”ICPC will  also collaborate  in   the post-privatisation activities of the BPE since some of the investors after takeover often engage in assets- stripping thus, negating the essence of privatization”.

    Nta who made this known when the management of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) led by its Acting Director General, Dr. Vincent Onome Akpotaire paid a courtesy visit to the Commission, said ICPC was interested in strengthening public institutions to ensure that public funds do not enrich individuals.

    The BPE’s head, Public Communications, Mr. Alex Okoh made this known in a statement Tuesday.

    The Chairman urged the BPE to constantly monitor privatized enterprises to achieve the objectives of privatization for the benefit of the citizenry. He expressed optimism that the synergy which the Bureau seeks with the Commission would bring about the desired results especially in the areas of investigation and intelligence gathering.

    According to him, the Commission had the expertise to carry out due diligence and background checks on prospective investors which are major ingredients for foolproof transactions by the Bureau. He listed the gains of privatization which include; preventing the use of public wealth for private gains, a veritable tool for the fight against corruption and efficiency in service delivery.

    He recalled that privatization was actually mooted in the 1970s with the nationalization policy in the days of Shell BP and Barclays Bank and that “privatization was not initially an economic policy, but an attempt to assert Nigeria’s independence”.

    Earlier, the Acting Director- General of the BPE, Dr. Vincent Onome Akpotaire had disclosed that the Bureau was poised to step up its privatisation processes in line with international best practices.

    Akpotaire called for increased synergy between both agencies to ensure an all encompassing upgrade of the transaction process. According to him “ICPC is an integral partner in the Bureau’s transactions and its input will be beneficial to the upgrade initiative and the national economic objective in its entirety”.

    He said transparency and integrity would remain key in the Bureau’s existing transaction processes and the proposed upgrade especially against the backdrop of “the growing trends of white collar crimes across the globe which makes it necessary to close the gaps and help the Commission to be familiar with our processes”.

    The Acting DG added that “resources are better utilized when such crimes are averted at the early stages of any transaction process”.

    The BPE Acting helmsman sought more intimate liaison between the two agencies as they both had a common goal to ensure transparent financial transaction process.

    He assured that the Bureau would at all times make all information about its transactions and processes available to the Commission when demanded.

  • ICPC moves against corrupt officials at airports

    ICPC moves against corrupt officials at airports

    The war to rid the international airports in the country of corruption got a boost yesterday when members of the Project Advisory Committee on the Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) in the aviation sector were inaugurated in the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation in Abuja.

    The inauguration was a follow up to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) last December in Lagos.

    A member of the ICPC and Chairman of the joint committee, Alhaji Ozi Salami,  said the collaboration had yielded several gains, which included public enlightenment campaigns against corruption at the airports, surveillance and intelligence gathering activities as well as a sting operation to arrest perpetrators of corruption.

    Salami added that reports since the last sting operation showed that there was an awareness of the presence of the commission at the airports and this had reduced impunity.

    He said: “There is a need to continue the tempo of the intervention, so that the anti-corruption message will be consolidated.

    “CRA is a corruption prevention tool, which works with organisations’ management to identify vulnerable areas that are prone to corruption, proffer recommendations, and develop integrity plans that would strengthen accountability and transparency towards checking corruption and enhancing service delivery.

    “It is focused on studying organisational systems and operational environments with a view to addressing identified corruption risks therein. It is pertinent to emphasise that CRA is not a criminal investigation, but rather a study of systems with a view to recommend a review to reduce corruption.”