Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: ICPC

  • Tinubu Appoints Dr. Musa Aliyu as ICPC Chairman

    Tinubu Appoints Dr. Musa Aliyu as ICPC Chairman

    By Daniel Edu

    STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

    President Bola Tinubu Appoints Fresh ICPC Leadership; Grants Pre-End of Tenure Leave to Outgoing Chairman

    In adherence to the authority vested in the President, as stipulated in Section 3(6) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and in line with the Renewed Hope initiative aimed at overhauling vital institutions and reinforcing Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, President Bola Tinubu has given his nod to the appointment of a new management team for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), pending Senate confirmation:

    1. Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu — Chairman / Chief Executive Officer, ICPC
    2. Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu — Secretary to the Commission, ICPC

    The nomination of the new ICPC Chairman is now set for Senate approval, following the President’s endorsement of the outgoing Chairman’s request to commence pre-end of tenure leave, starting November 4, 2023, ahead of the expiration of his tenure on February 3, 2024.

    Notably, the appointment of Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu as Secretary of the Commission takes immediate effect and does not require Senate confirmation, as per the President’s directive.

    Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, who has been spearheading significant reforms as the Attorney General of Jigawa State since September 2019, boasts a robust educational background, holding Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Law. His dedication to public service was further recognized when he was designated as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in October 2023.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, a legal practitioner with over three decades of experience, has a distinguished track record in the public sector, having served commendably as a member of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and as Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.

    President Tinubu emphasizes the importance of the new ICPC management team maintaining unwavering integrity while carrying out their responsibilities, dealing with all matters impartially and without bias.

    Chief Ajuri Ngelale
    Special Adviser to the President

  • No Files implicating Tinubu In Our Custody – ICPC

    No Files implicating Tinubu In Our Custody – ICPC

    Anti-graft agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) has refuted claims that it has files implicating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or his close aides at its offices.

    Tinubu was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in September 2011 for allegedly operating foreign bank accounts, contrary to the constitution.

    Recently, an unverified report emerged on the media space that the Department of State Services (DSS) is removing all incriminating files from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and ICPC relating to Tinubu and his close aides and associates.

    However, in a statement on Saturday, July 8, ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, described the report as fake.

    She said the attention of the commission was drawn to a spurious news report by an online medium, titled “Secret Police, DSS Carts Away Files Implicating President Tinubu, Close Aides from ICPC, CCB”

    “The commission hereby states unequivocally that there were no files implicating President Bola Tinubu or his close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states.

    “And, therefore, the alleged carting away of such imaginary files is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public,” Ms Ogugua stated.

    See the full statement below:

    A REBUTTAL ON SAHARAREPORTERS’ NEWS REPORT TITLED “SECRET POLICE, DSS CARTS AWAY FILES IMPLICATING PRESIDENT TINUBU, CLOSE AIDES FROM ICPC, CCB”

    The attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been drawn to a spurious news report by online medium, Saharareporters titled “Secret Police, DSS Carts Away Files Implicating President Buhari, Close Aides from ICPC, CCB”.

    The Commission hereby refute the report by Saharareporters and state unequivocally that there were no files implicating President Tinubu or close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states and therefore the alleged carting away of such imaginary files is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public.

    While the Commission does not dispute the role of the media to inform the public, it is however deeply disturbed by irresponsible practice and non-adherence to the tenets of the journalism profession by some media outlets.

    For the umpteenth time, the Commission wishes to urge media organisations not to allow the use of their medium to propagate lies and unfounded reports by subversive agents. The Commission’s channels of communications remain open for clarification and confirmation.

    Signed: Mrs. Azuka Ogugua

    Spokesperson, ICPC

  • How Ex-JAMB Registrar Used Fake Names To Commit Fraud – ICPC

    How Ex-JAMB Registrar Used Fake Names To Commit Fraud – ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said on Wednesday that it remained undaunted in its prosecution of a former Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

    The ICPC, which is prosecuting Ojerinde for alleged N5bn fraud, alleged in a statement on Wednesday that the the don “used several false names, aliases, and forged means of identification such as Akanbi Lamidi, Adeniyi Banji, Habibulahi Lamidi, Joshua Olaniran Olakuleyin, etc to perpetrate his corrupt practices through various bank accounts and still retains the resources and influence to evade justice.”

    The ICPC also rejected a recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered it to pay Ojerinde N1m damages over his re-arrest on January 26 on the court premises.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed by Ojerinde, had declared that the re-arrest and continued detention of the JAMB ex-helmsman was illegal, holding that the ICPC violated Ojerinde’s right to personal liberty.

    The judge ordered the anti-graft agency to pay Ojerinde N1m in damages in addition to another N200,000 as the cost of instituting the lawsuit.

    But in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC rejected the ruling, declaring that it was going to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

    The ICPC contended that Ojerinde’s re-arrest was based on a warrant issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

    “The ICPC expressed its dissatisfaction with the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the civil rights claim filed by the former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

    “The commission intends to appeal the ruling of the court. The anti-corruption agency has a valid warrant issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court dated December 6, 2022,” it read.

  • NBA Tasks Poice, ICPC To Probe, Prosecute Sen. Bulkachuwa Over Judicial Confession

    NBA Tasks Poice, ICPC To Probe, Prosecute Sen. Bulkachuwa Over Judicial Confession

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately invite Senator Ahmad Muhammad Bulkachuwa for interrogation and proceed to prosecute him accordingly.

    This comes after Bulkachuwa’s disclosure that his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, “extended help” to some politicians during her time as President of the Court of Appeal between April 2014 and March 2020.

    The NBA, in a statement by its President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, on Wednesday, noted that the viral video clip of the comments made by the senator were clearly admissions that he did attempt to and/or actually perverted the course of justice/interfered with due administration of justice, which makes him liable to be investigated and prosecuted even on his admission.

    The association also said “that this came with a huge negative impact on the integrity and the independence of the Judiciary can only be an understatement”.

    While reiterating the Bar’s commitment to the maintenance and defence of the integrity of the judiciary, Maikayau insisted that the Bar would not hesitate to take on anyone, either within or outside the legal profession, who takes steps or makes statements that are capable of undermining the independence of the judiciary and the impartiality judicial processes.

    The NBA president also said that at the 102nd meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held earlier on Wednesday, he took the liberty of his membership of the council to complain about the “rather disgusting and despicable conduct of Senator Bulkachuwa, which was a direct attack on the integrity of the Judiciary.

    He also said that the NJC condemned the actions of the Senator in the strongest terms as an affront on the integrity and independence of the Judiciary.

    Find below the full statement of the NBA President:

    STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MR YAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, ON THE COMMENTS BY SENATOR ADAMU MUHAMMAD BULKACHUWA ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE ON MONDAY, 12 JUNE 2023
    14 June 2023

    My attention was drawn to a viral video clip on the social media, of the comments made by Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa on the floor of the Senate on Monday, 12 June 2023, at the valedictory session of the Senate of the 9th Assembly, before he was interrupted and stopped by the then Senate President Ahmed Lawan. Senator Bulkachuwa, in his remarks, amongst other things, referred to “confidential dealings” he had had with some of his colleagues in the Senate, and went on to say:

    “I look at faces in this chamber whom have come to me and sought for my help when my wife was the President of the Court of Appeal, and I’m sure…
    In his concluding remarks, he said:
    And I must thank particularly, my wife, whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while she was in office, and she has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment, and extended her help to my colleagues…”

    All these were amidst several interjections by the Senate President. Probably, if the Senate President had not interrupted Senator Bulkachuwa, he would have made more vital/useful revelations that would have provided specific details of the “confidential dealings of one sort or the other” he allegedly had with some of his colleagues in which according to him, “I did my best and in most cases I succeeded”. Notwithstanding however, given the office held by his wife which he clearly mentioned in his remarks, no one would be left in doubt as to the sort of help he either succeeded or did not succeed in securing for his colleagues, with whom he had since become good friends and still remain good friends. These colleagues, according to him, only “thanked me for what I have done with words of mouth, that was all.”

    The statements were clearly admissions by the Senator, that he did attempt to, and/or actually perverted the course of justice/interfered with due administration of justice, which makes him liable to be investigated and prosecuted even on his admission. That this came with a huge negative impact on the integrity and the independence of the Judiciary can only be an understatement.

    At the 102nd meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held today, 14 June 2023, I took the liberty of my membership of the Council to complain about the rather disgusting and despicable conduct of Senator Bulkachuwa, which was a direct attack on the integrity of the Judiciary. The NJC condemned the actions of the Senator in the strongest terms as an affront on the integrity and independence of the Judiciary. I made it clear to the Council that, while the NBA will at all times rise to the defence of the honour, integrity and independence of the judiciary, we shall not hesitate to take on anyone, either within or outside the legal
    profession, who takes steps or makes statements that are capable of undermining the independence of the judiciary and the impartiality judicial processes.

    It is in this regard that I call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately invite Senator Ahmad Muhammad Bulkachuwa for interrogation and proceed to prosecute him accordingly. I shall write a letter to both the IGP and the ICPC Chairman in this respect.

    We reiterate our commitment to the maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Judiciary in Nigeria, within the bounds of the law, irrespective of the personalities involved.

    Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN
    PRESIDENT

  • Buhari Swears In Seven ICPC Board Members

    Buhari Swears In Seven ICPC Board Members

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday morning, swore in seven reappointed board members for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, at the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    The swearing-in ceremony took place shortly before the commencement of this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting.

    It is the second council meeting since the February 25 presidential election where the All Progressives Congress’s Bola Tinubu emerged as the winner.

    The members include Justice Adamu Bello (retd.), Katsina State; Hannatu Mohammed (Jigwa State); Olubukola Balogun (Lagos State); Obiora Igwedibia (Anambra State); Dr. Abdullahi Saidu (Niger State); Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa State) and Grace Chinda (Rivers State).

    All seven board members were first inaugurated by Buhari in 2019.

    Their renewed four-year tenure ends in March 2027.

  • Naira Scarcity: ICPC Raids Bank, Discovers Over Stashed N250m

    Naira Scarcity: ICPC Raids Bank, Discovers Over Stashed N250m

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has discovered N258 million stashed in the vaults of a bank amid the ongoing cash scarcity in the country.

    Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, who disclosed this, said the money, all new naira notes, was found in the vault of the Abuja head office of Sterling Bank.

    “Operatives of ICPC discovered the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight Million Naira (N258m) stashed in the vault at the head office of Sterling Bank in Abuja,” she said.

    According to Oguagua, investigation showed that the money was released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for distribution.

    “The team however found out that only the sum of N5 million each was distributed to their various branches.

    “Both the Regional and Service managers were arrested and later granted administrative bail while investigation continues,” she said.

    The spokesperson added that the Commission has also effected the arrest of the Head of Operations, Keystone Bank, Mararaba in Nasarawa State for frustrating its customers at getting the new Naira notes.

    She said the ICPC team, while on its routine operation, found out that the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the branch were not dispensing to its customers, while other bank customers were accessing only One Thousand Naira.

    “It was only after the arrest was made and clarification received from CBN that the position of the officers of the Bank was not correct, that the ATMs started dispensing Five Thousand Naira to non-customers and Ten Thousand Naira to its customers,” she said.

    Oguagua added that the team also arrested one Abdulkareem Shaibu, a Security Guard with Zenith Bank, 3rd Avenue Gwarimpa, as well as Ali Adam and Shafiu Umar.

    While Shaibu, the Security Guard was arrested for being in possession of five ATM cards which he was using to collect money for different unknown persons who were not within the Bank premises at that time, Adam and Umar were arrested in front of Zenith Bank, 1st Avenue Gwarimpa, for selling the new Naira notes.

    While announcing a new deadline for the circulation of old naira notes, Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had said the apex back was being sabotaged.

    He had expressed disappointment with commercial banks, saying the new notes were being hoarded.

    He also disclosed that the bank had enlisted the services of anti-graft agencies to checkmate saboteurs.

    Different discoveries have been made by the anti-graft agencies during the naira scarcity period.

  • BREAKING: ICPC Releases D’Banj on Self-recognition

    BREAKING: ICPC Releases D’Banj on Self-recognition

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has released popular musician, Daniel Oladapo, also known as D’Banj.

    D’banj’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who announced the development on Friday, said the musician was released on self-recognition.

    The ICPC released the music star on grounds that he may be summoned later for further investigations.

    Details later…

  • ICPC Arrests, Detains D’Banj Over Diversion Of N-Power Funds

    ICPC Arrests, Detains D’Banj Over Diversion Of N-Power Funds

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the arrest and detention of Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, otherwise known by his stage name D’Banj, over the investigation of fraud associated with the N-Power Programme.

    The N-Power is a scheme established by President Muhammadu Buhari on 8th June, 2016, to address the issues of youth unemployment and empowerment, and help increase social development.

    In line with its mandate, the Commission said it had received numerous petitions on the diversion of N-Power funds running into billions of naira following the approval and release of such funds to the beneficiaries by the Federal Government. Many N-Power beneficiaries had complained over the non-receipt of the monthly funds in spite of payment by the Government.

    “About 10 persons have been invited by the ICPC over the last few months in connection with the N-Power fraud, and have been granted administrative bail after their detention. Several invitations to Mr. Oladipo Daniel Oyebanjo, to appear before a team of investigators were ignored and not honoured.

    “Mr. Oyebanjo turned in himself and was taken into custody at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, 6th December, 2022, and is currently assisting the investigators to unravel the circumstances of the fraud allegations by the petitioners.

    “The investigation will be all-encompassing and also be extended to other collaborators of the fraud and the banks where the beneficiaries’ accounts are domiciled,” an ICPC communique partly read.

    According to the Commission, the investigation is ongoing and it would be preferred that no one preempts the outcome of the inquiry.

  • ICPC tracks 721 constituency projects in 20 states

    ICPC tracks 721 constituency projects in 20 states

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it will tomorrow begin fresh tracking of 712 constituency projects execution in 20 states.

    ICPC spokesman, Azuka Ogugua, Sunday said the exercise would be carried out in Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Borno, Bauchi and Gombe States.

    She stated, “As with other tracking exercises carried out by ICPC since the kick-off in 2019, the objective of the Phase 5 is to investigate fraudulent procurement practices in the award of contracts for the selected projects across the country.

    “It aims to ensure that all government funded projects are executed fully to their specifications and to make recoveries where the project costs are inflated by contractors or are poorly executed.”

    Ogugua said some of the findings from the Phase 4 exercise included discovery of N7.1bn worth of padded projects, some contractors who had abandoned project sites being compelled to return to different sites to complete N10.9bn worth of projects, while N6.8 billion naira worth of recoveries (cash and assets) have been made so far. 

    “Also, 109 out of the 543 selected projects in Phase 4, amounting to N1,176,867,800 were found to have been inserted, which effectively turned them into Zonal Intervention Projects,” she added. 

    According to her, intelligence revealed that the insertions were done by both legislators and some members of the executive arm of the government in the budget-making process.

  • ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Following Raid On Military Contractor’s House

    ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Following Raid On Military Contractor’s House

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered billions of Naira from a property which the ICPC says belongs to a certain K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor.

    In a brief statement titled – ICPC Clears The Air On Media Report Of Abuja Property’s Raid And Seizure, the commission its operatives raided a property in Wuse 2 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Thursday, 16th June, 2022 between 5:00pm and 12:00am in suspicion of money laundering.

    READ ALSO: My Family And I Are With You In Your Travails, Peter Obi Tells Ekweremadu

    According to the communique signed by ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, operatives of the commission recovered money and other items from the property.

    What was uncovered included, “N175,706,500; $220,965; G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents”.

    Following the uncovering, the ICPC said it arrested the Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau.

    The commission said investigations are ongoing and as such, it prefers not to preempt the outcome of the inquiry, as to avoid the frenzy of a media trial.