Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the State of Palestine’s Anti-Corruption Commission and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) based in Laxenburg, Austria.
The agreements are part of measures by the ICPC to enhance its fight against corruption in the country.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, signed the two agreements on behalf of Nigeria while the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the State of Palestine, Mr. Raed Radwan, signed for his country and the Dean of IACA, Thomas Stelzer, signed for his organisation.
The signing of the agreements is part of the side events at the Ninth Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP9) to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at the International Conference Centre in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, also called on the United Nations and global community to take action by exposing owners of artificial legal entities in order to combat money laundering, Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and hidden ill-gotten wealth across the globe.
The ICPC boss made the call as a panellist at CoSP9, speaking on the draft resolution L9 titled; “Enhancing Access and Use of Beneficial Ownership Information to Facilitate the Identification, Recovery and Return of Proceeds of Crime,” the ICPC Chairman Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye affirmed that, artificial legal entities were being used for illegality and financial crimes including illicit financial flows.
“We have held so many meetings and conferences on beneficial ownership. This is the time for action. We need to act now and lift the veil on these artificial legal entities that are being used to perpetuate crimes against the developing countries.
“Lifting the veil on these owners of artificial legal entities will assist in asset tracing and recovery of hidden and stolen funds. The developing countries are being deprived of funds required for development.”
“There is no need for the continuous debate on artificial legal entities and beneficial ownership. We need to reduce these meetings and debates and take action now. Action is what is required which is the lifting of the veil on these owners. We need to know those behind these artificial entities.”
Although welcoming the acts of charities, the ICPC Chairman however disclosed that charities are now used for corruption.
He canvassed information sharing and collaboration among intelligence agencies to assist in their operations, adding that absence of transparency and information makes it difficult to know those behind crimes.
Prof. Owasanoye further called for global cooperation and information sharing in addressing corruption if Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved.
“Corruption undermines efforts at realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if not combatted It escalates poverty as well as increases inequality.
“Therefore, networking and information sharing have become necessary to combat corruption, and invariably address poverty and inequality gap,” Owasanoye added.
The CoSP9 is being attended by top government officials and heads of anti-corruption agencies from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Ukraine, India, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali as well as international agencies, Civil Society Organisations, and the private sector.
PIAK
