… Asks ICPC, EFCC to resist pressures from political leaders
Governor Aminu Tambuwal has called on the National Assembly to amend the laws establishing the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He made the call on Monday stated while commissioning the new office complex of the ICPC in the Sokoto.
Tambuwal said the call became necessary in order to strengthen the process of petitioning by possibly bringing a novel idea of supporting every petition with an affidavit, photograph and signature of the petitioner.
He explained that this will save precious time of investigators, the police and all of those who are involved in the fight against corruption, stressing that overall it will salvage the course of law.
Tambuwal said by the time they wasted so much time on investigating petition that are anonymous that no have substance, it will be difficult for them to concentrate and face genuine case of corruption and fight against corruption more vigorously.
He also recommended of received and investigating a petition from members of the public and caution avoid the receiving the petition from anonymous individuals whose objectives are suspects.
He added that those who are of the habit of using this platform of the ICPC and EFCC to embark and witch-hunting and trying to blackmail people will not find the platform as avenues of achieving their political scores.
The governor commended the effort of the federal government in establishment of the ICPC offices and even recommended the need for every body as a people as a government to continue strengthen the institution.
He appeal to ICPC management to continue to resist pressures from political leaders and avoid politicisation in the fight against corruption, adding that we must support the fight devoid of interference.
Tambuwal who commended the government of Olusegun Obasanjo for coming up the idea of establishing ICPC in 2000, maintained that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility, adding that all hands must be on deck to support the efforts of the federal government and indeed every agency of the federal government in the fight.
He commended the foresight of the commission in its establishment of the state offices in all the states of the federation in due course.
The governor further said the state government is committed to continue supporting and collaborating with the Commission in the state, especially in the sensitization of the public and civil servants on the issue of corruption and governance in the society.
He directed the state ministry of information to continue to collaborate with them where necessary on television and radio, maintaining that media trial of suspects should be avoided by the ICPC.
He commended the initiative of project tracking by the Commission adding that it is very important to keep tab on those serving in government who try to hijack public projects that are meant for the and present them as their own personal ones.
In his address, the Chairman of the ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanye said Sokoto state office started in February 2019 and was completed in March 2020 and has been in use since August 2020.
He said the commission is effectively operating in 15 states of the federation spread equally across the six geo- political zones.
Professor thanked the governor for providing a conducive environment which led to the early completion of the project.
He stressed the need for partnership and collaboration between the state government and the commission in the pursuit of its mandate to eradicate all forms of corruption in the country.
