Politics

Heavy Presence of EFCC, ICPC, Security Operatives as Re-run Holds in Oyo

By Web News 475

By Bashir Sulaiman

There was heavy presence of security operatives during the re-run election held on Saturday, in two polling units of Saki West State Constituency of Oyo State House of Assembly.

The affected polling units are Odo-osun 007 in Ogidigbo area and Ogbalanja polling unit 019 in Sepeteri/Bapon registration area.

It was also observed that officials of  Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were on ground at the two polling units to prevent vote buying.

The atmosphere at the two polling units was peaceful as voters performed their civic rights without hindrance or intimidation.

The rerun election in Saki West state constituency was as a result of the ruling of an Appeal court on the judgement of the 2023 Election petition tribunal.

According to the court, the election recorded electoral malpractices ranging from over-voting in the affected polling units and by-passing of BVAS during accreditation of voters.

Edited by Olaolu Fawole

Governance

No place for the corrupt in governance – EFCC, ICPC Bosses

By Web News 317

By Samuel Adeyinka (Abuja)

Nigeria’s two leading anti-graft agencies vow to tackle corruption head-on, saying there is no place for the corrupt in the present government. 

Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede stated this when the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr. Musa Aliyu paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

He gave assurance that there would be no hiding place for the corrupt in Nigeria, given the political will of President Bola Tinubu to tackle economic, and financial crimes and other acts of corruption head-on.

According to Mr Olukoyede, President Tinubu is offering the right atmosphere for anti-graft activities, both for the EFCC and ICPC and no Nigerian is immune to investigations for any corruption allegation.

“We believe that with the kind of President we have, who is ready and willing to do the right thing and from what we have seen in recent times and in the last 48 hours, it is clear that he has provided the political will and leadership and created the atmosphere for us to work. So there is no hiding place for the corrupt. We must give our best; we must be committed and give the President the right support he needs”. 

He stressed, ”Nobody is too big to be investigated in this country. Once you are not playing according to the rules, we will investigate you”.

The EFCC boss further noted that the engagement with the ICPC was sending the right signals to the entire country that the anti-corruption agencies are coming together and extending hands of comradeship and fellowship to each other with a mind to work together. 

Mr Olukoyede recalled that there was a subsisting memorandum of understanding, MoU, between both agencies.  

“Today, the MoU is in place. It is going to be a living document that we can review from time to time to accommodate mutual interest.”

He pointed out that the enormity of cases both agencies are handling justified their independent existence and the need to increase the manpower of the agencies. 

“Even with five anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, we hardly can do more than scratch the surface. One anti-corruption agency in the US has a staff strength of about thirty-five thousand. I am not sure the staff strength of the EFCC and the ICPC put together will be up to seven thousand. Though people have been talking of duplication of responsibilities between the EFCC and ICPC, I don’t see it from that perspective. I see it from the perspective of the enormity of the work on our hands. When you are limited by staff strength and resources and there is still so much to be done, it becomes important to work together and see if we can move the country forward”, he said.

To reinforce his commitment to collaboration, the EFCC boss recalled that he reminded the Senate during his confirmation session about the overarching need for collaboration among the EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and Code of Conduct Tribunal. 

In his remarks, the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu stressed the need for understanding and synergy between his commission and the EFCC to stem the rate of corruption in the country.

“It is very important for us to work together. And we cannot work together without having a good relationship, that’s why I decided to extend hands of friendship to the EFCC so that we can see how we can work closely in helping this country to fight corruption. I am aware that there is an MoU between the ICPC and the EFCC”. He said. 

Dr Musa explained that ICPC was ready to collaborate and partner with the EFCC.

The meeting was attended by top management staff of both commissions.

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Crime

ICPC Nabs Six Alleged Vote Buyers in Imo

By Web News 330

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, operatives have arrested six suspected vote buyers during the election proceedings in Imo State.

In a statement released Sunday on its X account, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission disclosed that the individuals were apprehended at seven polling units: Orji Mechanic Village (PU 008), Concord Hotel (PU 009), Rento Hotel (PU 010), Township School (PU 005, 007, 008), and Ojukwu Library with a total sum of N4,101,750 recovered from the suspects.

Among the seized items were a notebook containing names and telephone numbers and a long list of voters’ information discovered on two suspects.

Following their arrest, all suspects were taken into custody, subjected to profiling, and had their statements recorded under caution. Despite being released on bail, investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The statement said, “Election: ICPC Arrests 6 Suspected Vote Buyers in Imo State Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have arrested six persons during the election exercise in Imo state.

The suspects were arrested at seven polling units at Orji Mechanic Village (PU 008), Concord Hotel (PU 009), Rento Hotel (PU 010), Township School (PU 005, 007, 008), and Ojukwu Library, and a total of N4,101,750 was recovered from them.

“Also recovered from one of the suspects was a notebook containing names and telephone numbers and, from another, a long list with voters’ information. All the suspects were taken into custody, profiled, and had their statements taken under caution.

“They have since been released on bail even as investigations continue.”

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

News

ICPC Underscores Role of Media in Anti-Corruption Crusade

By Web News 316

By Adenitan Akinola 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, has underscored the role of the Mass media in ensuring a result oriented fight against corruption in Nigeria.

The ICPC Commissioner for Osun State, Mr Ademola Bakare stated this while addressing newsmen in Osogbo.

Mr Bakare argued that the pivotal role of the media to inform and educate the people placed it at a vantage position for any societal rebirth and reorientation through information dissemination, a development which he identified was key to building a young generation of descent citizens.

He appealed to the Media to see itself as an institution imposed with sacrosanct and constitutional mandate of supporting relevant agencies such as the ICPC in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

According to ICPC boss one of its core mandate is to monitor federal government projects and ensure it block all leakages that resulting to corruption, a function through which it monitored projects worth over nine hundred million naira in Osun State alone, including Constituency projects of lawmakers and some executive projects.

The duties of the Commission are contained in section 6 (a-f) of the Act 2000. This section confers 3 main responsibilities on ICPC. In summary, they are:

“To receive and investigate reports of the conspiracy to commit, attempt to commit or actual commission of offence(s) as prescribed by the Act 2000 and in appropriate cases prosecute the offender(s).

“Also to examine and review corruption-prone systems and procedures of public bodies, with a view to eliminating or minimizing corruption.

“To educate and enlighten the public on and against corruption and related offences with a view to enlisting and fostering public support in fighting” he stated. 

On the japa syndrome, where many Nigerian Youths are moving out the country in search of greener pasture abroad ,ICPC commissioner said Nigeria was better country saying youths travelling out the country are doing so because get -quick-rich syndrome. 

His words “Yes we hear about the Japa syndrome by many Nigerian especially the Youths but their mission is just to make quick money .Nigeria is good country we all need to make it better so moving out of the country is never a solution but all hands must be on deck to fight corruption and possibly eradicate it .

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Crime

ICPC Arraigns Ex-JAMB Registrar

By Web News 590

The Federal Government is to arraign Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, on seven counts bordering on money laundering at a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Ojerinde is being arraigned alongside his four children, Mary Funmilola, Olumide Abiodun, Adedayo and Oluwaseun Adeniyi, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

According to reports Ojerinde and his companies are currently facing a money laundering charge to the tune of N5 billion before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

He was accused to have diverted public funds while he served as National Examinations Council and NAMB registrar.

However, in this fresh charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/119/23, the ex-JAMB boss and his four children were included.

Also joined in the charge are all his companies which include: Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Ltd, Cheng Marbles Ltd, Sapati International Schools Ltd, Trillium Learnings Centre Ltd and Standout Institutes Ltd.

Ojerinde and the ten defendants were yet to take a plea at the time of filing the reports.

NAN/Adebukola Aluko

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Politics

NigeriaDecides: ICPC Nabs 9 Vote-Buyers

By Web News 590

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC, arrested nine persons for vote-buying in Osun, Ondo, Borno, Akwa-Ibom and Sokoto states during the Pesidential and National Assembly Elections on Saturday.

Four vote buyers were arrested by the Osun State office of the ICPC, Two persons were arrested by the Sokoto State office, while one person each was arrested by the Ondo, Akwa-Ibom and Borno states offices of the anti-graft agency.

The spokesperson for the Commission, Azuka Ogugua, revealed this in a Saturday night statement.

Ogugua said, “The four vote-buyers arrested in Osun State are Adewale Teslim, 32 years, Yemi Adebiyi, 42 years, Shake Idris, 36 years, and Emiola Oluwole, 69 years.

The suspects, who are in the Osun state office’s custody, were found with documents containing lists of names, phone numbers and account details of voters during the election in the state.

Operatives of the Commission retrieved a list of names and phone numbers of voters from Adewale Teslim at Polling Unit 07, Ward 07, Ile Aganna in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state.

“The officers also recovered a list of people who had voted with their phone numbers and account details from Yemi Adebiyi at Polling Unit 06, Ward 04 at Ikirun Junction, Ikirun while Shake Idris was arrested at Polling Unit 6, Ward 10, Ofatedo area of Osun State with a notebook containing over 100 names and account numbers.”

The anti-corruption agency also recovered a notebook containing a list of voters’ names and account details from Mrs Afolabi Adijat at Ward 5, Polling Unit 04 of Ansar-ud-deen Mosque area of Olorunda Local Government.

“The agency’s officers, however, couldn’t arrest Mrs. Adijat due to the volatility of the area and insufficient armed personnel,” Ogugua noted.

The Ondo state office of the ICPC arrested one Mrs Idowu-Yemi Omolere at Polling Unit 12, Ward 12 behind Dada Estate Police Station in connection with the distribution of recharge cards to voters.

Ogugua noted that the ICPC personnel recovered 24 pieces of N500 recharge cards, a list of voters and their phone numbers as well as a Techno phone.

Also, the Borno state office of the ICPC arrested one Garba Bahausa at the Bulunkutu Ward in possession of four PVCs and the sum of N49,000. The suspect distributed the money, food items and 20 wrappers.

In the course of his interrogation, Bahausa confessed that the money was given to him by a lawmaker to distribute to voters.

The Akwa Ibom state office of the ICPC arrested a woman, Mrs Idara Umoren, for collating the names and account details of voters suspected to have voted for her preferred candidate.

Umoren was arrested at the Signature Hotel Polling Unit on Plot 48G Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Akwa Ibom.

In Sokoto State, ICPC operatives arrested two persons Hassan Muhammad and Nafisa Sani for vote-buying at the Rabah Local Government Area.

Hassan Muhammad was caught in possession of signed tickets which were given to voters that voted for his party.
The ticket enabled the voters to be given women wrappers and bags of rice, Nafisa Sani was intercepted while giving wrappers to voters at a polling unit in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto.
Punch/Adebukola Aluko

Politics

#OsunDecides: Arrest anyone who attempts to buy votes – NGO

By Web News 424

An Election Monitoring Group, YIAGA Africa, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to arrest anyone attempting to buy or sell votes during Osun governorship election.

The Executive Director of the group, Mr Samson Itodo, made the call during a press conference in Osogbo.

Mr Itodo said that political parties, candidates, and their supporters must refrain from vote-buying and the related practice of compromising the ballot’s secrecy and value of the vote.

He said, “Yiaga Africa calls for better coordination with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in making arrests of political party leaders, agents and anyone attempting to buy or sell votes before the election and on election day.

“Security agencies should deploy monitoring mechanisms to checkmate and curtail personnel excesses on Election Day”, he said.

Mr Itodo noted that with a different political and security terrain, the Osun election would test the resolve of election stakeholders, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to conduct credible, transparent and peaceful election.

He appealed  to INEC’s permanent and ad hoc staff, all security agents, political party candidates and their supporters, as well as all electorate to work together to ensure that the election is credible and peaceful.

“While INEC has expressed confidence in the state of its preparedness, YIAGA Africa urges the commission not to overestimate its capacity nor underestimate potential challenges that could undermine the election.

“The voters in Osun and Yiaga Africa expect that INEC and security agencies will deliver credible, peaceful and conclusive elections bereft of challenges of election logistics, technological failures, inconsistent application of electoral laws and guidelines, electoral violence and vote-buying”, he said.

The Programme Manager of the group, Ms Cynthia Mbala, also said that vote buying reduces the quality of leadership and by extension affected citizen’s participation.

“Vote buying in no small way reduces the quality of leadership and, by extension, affects citizens’ participation in the electoral process due to little or no dividends of democracy

“Thus, the social contract between citizens and government is becoming transactional rather than a relationship based on trust, accountability, and demand for good governance”, he said.

Also in his remarks, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, YIAGA board member, said the increasing activities of political thugs and cultists in the state were no doubt capable of threatening the safety of personnel, materials, and citizens on election day.

Nwagwu urged all registered voters to come out en mass to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Adenitan Akinola

Crime

ICPC Interrogates FMC Medical Director for Alleged Misappropriation of COVID-19 Fund

By Web News 562

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has grilled the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State, Dr Ahmed Adeagbo and one other over an alleged fraud of N176 million COVID-19 intervention fund. 

It was gathered that ICPC, the Osogbo branch, Osun State had sent a letter of invitation to Adeagbo and one other to appear before the commission for explanation over the alleged fraud. 

Radio Nigeria learnt that the MD and a member of staff of FMC arrived at the premises of ICPC in the GRA area of Osogbo around 11 am on Thursday for interrogation which lasted for hours before he was released.  

The invitation letter by commission dated April 20, 2022, and addressed to the facility’s Medical Director, also sought the presence of the Head of Finance and Accounts. 

It stated that they should appear before the commission to show evidence of how the N176 million COVID-19 intervention fund and other monies were spent by the hospital’s management.

“You are to show the evidence of how the alleged amount of N186,817, 307 was spent with approvals and relevant documents, establish the purpose of the COVID-19 intervention funds and beneficiaries of the fund.

However, when our correspondent contacted the FMC MD, Adeagbo on phone about the development, he refused to comment in respect of his invitation by ICPC, Osogbo.

Adenitan Akinola

Lifestyle

Delta NOA Rewards Winners Of “Fall in Love” Video Competition

By Web News 836

The Delta State office of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, has presented awards to winners of the “Fall in Love with Nigeria” video competition for schools.

The Acting State Director of the NOA, Mr Victor Anyabuine, made this known at the awards presentation ceremony at Okpanam High School, in Okpanam, whose NOA Integrity Club emerged with the best theme video by participating schools.

Mr Anyabuine observed the nationwide competition entails the production of a short video clip by members of the Integrity Clubs from the participating schools, wherefore the entry by Okpanam High Schools was selected as the overall best in the state.

The Principal of Okpanam High School, Mrs Rachel Ogbogwu and leaders of the school’s Integrity Club expressed appreciation over the award and recognition by the NOA.

Meanwhile, an Assistant Director in the Edo, Delta office of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Mr Ezeh Nwafor, at the occasion listed lack of integrity and greed among leaders as one of the major challenges facing the nation.

The “Fall in Love with Nigeria” initiative was organized by the NOA in line with the season of celebration of love.

 Oghenero Eghweree

Politics

OYHA Denies Invitation of Speaker by EFCC

By Web News 634

Oyo state House of Assembly has denied a report in a section of media that the speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin was arrested and drilled by the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Ibadan office. 

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, Chairman, House committee on Information and ICT, Mr Kazeem Olayanju said the online news that reported the arrest of Mr Ogundoyin for alledged fraud in the purchase of vechicle for members of the Assembly was unfounded and untrue.

Mr. Olayanju said though the ICPC informed the House of Assembly of another petition received against the Assembly but neither the EFCC nor the ICPC arrested any principal officer lately. 

Mr Olayanju who said investigation was on going on the allegation, explained that no member of the house complained of any fault from the cars as against the claim of the petitioner.

 

Mosope Kehinde

Politics

ICPC, EFCC have no business investigating govt. finances – Osun Speaker

By Web News 728

The Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye says the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, should have no business in investigating government finances and expenditure, if there is an efficient House of Assembly.

Mr. Owoeye stated this after the second reading of the “Osun Public Procurement Law Amendment Bill 2020” at the Assembly’s plenary session in Osogbo.

The Speaker explained that the oversight function of the legislative covers checking government expenditures, which would not allow EFCC and ICPC to further investigate state’s government financial activities, if the legislative arm of government has ensured proper accountability.

He, however, said the Procurement Amendment Bill, if passed into law, would make the financial activities of the state government more transparent and accountable for, saying the bill would give room for the creation of a board, which would oversee government procurements in the state.

He also explained that  the bill, when passed into law would give room for transparency in governance and the state procurement process, and inturn giving value for money, which is very important.

The Speaker added that, the procurement law would equally set guidelines for the boards of directors on how to manage the expenditure of the state government and thus making it more accountable to the public.

The policy trust of the Osun Public Procurement Law Amendment Bill was read by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Maruf Olanrewaju and the bill was passed for second reading.

Funmi Adekoya

Economy

Magu Charges Nigerians on Constituency Project Monitoring

By Web News 743

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has charged Nigerians to monitor closely delivery of constituency projects embarked upon by their representatives at the legislative arm of government.

Mr Magu gave the advice in Ibadan while offering his goodwill message at a town hall meeting jointly organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Titled: My Project, My Constituency, the event was aimed at sensitizing Nigerians on the need to task their representatives, members of the National and State Houses of Assembly, on efficient project delivery, and also enlighten them on how to go about the task.

The EFCC boss, who was represented by the Head of Forensic Accounting and Financial Investigations Section (FAFIS) at the Commission’s Ibadan Zonal Office, Mr Olusegun Oloruntuyi, noted that the people must show interest in the process and quality of delivery of constituency projects to prevent misappropriation and other forms of abuse of public funds by their representatives.

While assuring the public of the EFCC’s commitment to its mandate of investigating, prosecuting and preventing economic and financial crimes in public and private sectors, Mr Magu insisted that winning the war against corruption is the country’s surest path to achieving the global sustainable development goals.

He applauded the organisers of the programme for its timeliness.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Politics

ICPC Partners NOA to Sensitize Public on Developmental Projects

By Web News 1366

Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has taken the bull by the horns to ensure that constituency projects are carried out to their letters.

To achieve this, ICPC in collaboration with National Orientation Agency, NOA, embarked on enlightenment program, tagged “My Constituency, My Projects” in Akure to sensitize the public on Development projects meant for their areas.

ICPC recently set up Constituency Projects Tracking Group, CPTG, to track projects executed by legislators meant to develop the grassroots.

The group discovered many empowerment items tagged constituency projects meant to be given out piled up for over three years to the detriment of the people.

To address this anomaly, ICPC then partnered NOA to organize “My Constituency My Project” campaign to reawaken the people.

ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, represented by ICPC commissioner for Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States, Baba-alaro Shuaib, said the Commission was out to correct corrupt practices perpetrated by legislators.

In a welcome address, the Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Dr Garba Abari represented by NOA Director, Ondo State, Mr Bode Famose, urged Nigerians to take ownership of various developments to better their lots.

Some of the participants, including the traditional head of Ijigba, Rev Luyi Rotimi, Mr Samuel Oso, Pastor Yinka Odedele and Mrs Folake Esan expressed confidence that the campaign would go a long way to address non-execution of constituency projects in the communities.

Security agents, corps members, traditional rulers, newsmen and other members of the public graced the occasion.

John Ebiofini

Politics

I will declare my assets publicly after leaving office – Governor Makinde

By Web News 693

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde says his administration will not fail to report former political office holders in the state who refused to surrender state’s resources in their custody to the Independent Corrupt Practices and others related Offences Commission, ICPC.

Governor Makinde stated this while receiving the Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye and his management team in his office.

The Governor said the state government expected the former officeholders to cooperate with government and return funds traced to them.

Governor promised that he would equally declare his resources openly after his tenure just like he did when he assumed office.

The Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye said the commission was ready to cooperate with the government of Oyo State, especially in the area of systems review study.

Professor Owasanoye also expressed the readiness of the commission to nurture the state anti-corruption commission.

Iyabo Adebisi