Ayoola canvasses 15-year jail term for corrupt public officers – The Guardian
November 18, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi · View Comments
Towards making the fight against corruption in Nigeria more effective, the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, has canvassed a minimum of 15-year jail term without an option of fine for any public office holder caught in the act.
Besides, Ayoola, while proposing the speedy inculcation of the penalty in the nation’s Criminal Code with the severity it deserved, added that illegally acquired assets from such crime be confiscated into the state’s coffer but with judicial backing.
The ICPC boss made the call in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital yesterday at this year edition of the national conference of anti-corruption committees in Nigerian legislatures and heads of anti-corruption units in government establishment organised by the commission.
Alleged N35b loan scam: Governor storms ICPC – The Nation
November 9, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi · View Comments
Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda visited the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), at the weekend.
The secret visit might not be unconnected with a petition on the alleged diversion of a N35billion loan the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the ICPC is probing.
Yuguda arrived at the ICPC headquarters, without the paraphernalia of office, at about 11.05am in a blue Honda car last Friday.
He headed straight for the office of the ICPC chairman.
It was gathered that a bewildered Justice Ayoola suspended his official duties for a closed-door 45-minute session with the governor.
Justice Ayoola repeatedly asked some of his close aides what informed the sudden visit, The Nation learnt.
After the exit of the governor, Justice Ayoola summoned some heads of department to find out if they were handling any case involving the Bauchi State government because he could not “fathom what informed the secret visit”.
Ex-LG boss gets 7 years in jail – Daily Trust
October 19, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi · View Comments
A former chairman of Munguno local council in, Borno state Shugaba Umar and a staff of Borno State Board of Internal Revenue Alkali Iman have been sentenced to 7 years imprisonment without the option of fine for defrauding the state of tax revenue amounting to N1.5 million.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Umar and Iman before a High Court in Maiduguri
ICPC said the local council boss approved and released the sum on February 16, 2005 payable to Borno State Board of Internal Revenue as withholding tax on the pretext that he would pay same to the Board of Internal Revenue in Maiduguri. Iman then conspired with Umar to issue a receipt No. BO 537977 for the sum of N1.5m to him but the duplicate copy of the said receipt was signed for N125.
“Both were subsequently charged to Borno State High Court Maduguri on a five count charge for the offences of conferring corrupt advantage, false return, conspiracy contrary to sections 19, 16 and 26(1) (c) and 26 (i) of the Corrupt Practices and Other related offences Act, 2000 respectively,” ICPC said. ICPC’s Resident Commissioner on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Folu Olamiti confirmed the Judgement by the Maiduguri High Court.
Ezekwesili probe: ICPC arrests ministry official – Daily Trust
August 31, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi · View Comments
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the senior executive officer (administration) in the Ministry of Education over the alleged mismanagement of N1 billion authorised for the Education Reform Programme (ERP) embarked upon by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili while serving as education minister.
The official fingered in the case was arrested on Friday by operatives, a senior staff in ICPC told Daily Trust. It was also learnt that detectives will arrest more officials of the ministry today who were allegedly involved in the disbursement of the funds which did not follow due process.
The suspect in ICPC custody whose name was not disclosed was reportedly in charge of withdrawal of funds from banks and was answerable to the Director of Finance in the ministry who was also the alleged signatory to the accounts were monies were lodged.
