6 hours ago
4
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu SAN, has revealed that the anti-graft agency received a total of 2,038 petitions, secured 31 convictions and recovered assets/cash worth N105.82 billion between 2023 and 2024.
The chairman made the revelation while hosting members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, led by their Chairman, Honourable Prince Kayode Moshood Akiolu, who were on an oversight visit to the Commission on Wednesday.
A statement signed by the commission spokesman, Demola Bakare, made available to Tribune Online in Abuja on Friday informed that the chairman informed the lawmakers that in 2023, a total of 1,187 petitions was received by the commission, while between January and October this year, it received 851 petitions.
“The Commission received 1,187 petitions in 2023. From January to October, 2024, the Commission received 851 petitions.
“In 2023, it secured 18 convictions, while in 2024, it secured 13 convictions. The asset/cash recovered was 76.75 billion in 2023, while in 2024, ICPC recovered 29.07 billion,” Bakare quoted the chairman to have said.
Aliyu further said that in the area of collaboration with key stakeholders, ICPC worked with other anti-corruption agencies and relevant agencies to fight corruption.
At the international level, the ICPC boss said the commission led the Nigerian team to the Globe Network meeting, where it secured a seat in the steering committee alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and other nations.
Aliyu added that earlier this month, he was opportune to be elected as the Chairman of the African Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Forum (AARP-F).
ALSO READ: Reps to investigate alleged age falsification, anti-corruption units of MDAs
The chairman, however, told the lawmakers that the anti-corruption commission could not discharge its mandate without a good budgetary provision, saying that only the National Assembly has the power to advocate funds to the Commission to help it deliver on its mandate optimally.
While reiterating the need and support of the legislative arm of government in ensuring that ICPC receives budget increments, Aliyu called for reviews of the ICPC Act to enhance the commission’s work.
He also appealed to the House Committee to look into the welfare of the commission’s staff, saying that, “You can not fight corruption whereby those who are the foot soldiers are having a crisis of taking care of themselves and their families. It’s a risk to the Commission.’’
The chairman then urged the lawmakers to look into the issue of overlapping duties among agencies, even as he informed the delegations that since the Proceed of Crime Act was passed, ICPC had not had access to the 2 per cent of every recovery made as stipulated by the law.
“There is 2% of what we recover which we are entitled to. We cannot get that 2% without your input because the President has the power to approve but it must be ratified by the National Assembly,” the chairman said.
Responding, Prince Akiolu, commended the ICPC and congratulated the Chairman for his international recognition.
He informed that members of the committee were on the visit as part of their strategic duty of as the nation geared up for the 2025 budget presentation.
He said ICPC’s approach in the fight against corruption was one of the best as “prevention is better than prosecution”, adding that the Commission had made a lot of awareness.
He then asked, as part of the Committee’s oversight function, to see the conditions of the detention cell, how many days suspects stay in the cell before being taken to court and their living conditions.
The Secretary of the Commission, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, appreciated the delegations for coming and encouraged them to keep supporting ICPC.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
