Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices, and other related Offences Commission ICPC has been making significant progress in the fight against corruption in the country.
The Commission within the last four years has recovered 454.805 billion Naira worth of seized assets.
The Deputy Director Planning Research and Statistics ICPC, Mr. Jude Okoye said this in Abuja at a training organised by the commission for journalists covering Anti Corruption.
He said, “the commission has also recorded 90 convictions within the period.”
Mr. Okoye said “the convictions were recorded in 4,737 investigated cases by the commission, with many pending in various courts.”
He noted that, through Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiatives, the Commission was able to track 3422 projects.
While giving a breakdown of the recovered loot, Mr. Okoye said, “9.341 billion naira was cash recovery in ICPC account and 67.236 billion Naira from ICPC Intervention Investigation, while 257.492 billion Naira were funds restrained through final forfeiture.”
Constituency Project
He explained that the sum of 2.865 billion Naira was recovered from Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiatives CEPTI and other assets.
Another 45.280 billion Naira Mr. Oke noted, were from CEPTI completed projects on return of contractors.
Budget
He also said that, ICPC has recovered 26.573 billion Naira from cash restrained through budget tracking.
Mr. Okoye who called for the support of all Nigerians in the war against corruption, expressed the commitment of ICPC to continue to synergise with government agencies and development partners in the fight against corruption.
Speaking on the essence of the capacity building, the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye said the training would strengthen the capacity of journalists in reporting Anti Corruption in Nigeria accurately without bias.
He said, “fake news and biased reporting threaten all of us. They threaten stability, professional competencies, and our livelihoods.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
