Alleged N600m Fund Diversion: ICPC Quizzes Top Agric Ministry Officials 

*Seizes landed properties, including bakery, herbal hospital, N250 million The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited for questioning, four senior officials in the Department of Farm Inputs Supports Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, over alleged diversion of funds meant for monitoring exercise and sensitisation programmes. The civil servants invited by the ICPC are the Director of the Department Mr. Kwaido Sani, Deputy Director Mr. Buba Ardo Ishaku, Mr. Elam Sam, and Head of Accounting Unit Mrs Morenike Damola.  The ICPC invitation was via a letter referenced: ICPC/OPS/GBP/OBS/220, addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, drawing the attention of the Head, Farm Inputs Support Services Department. The letter dated July 19, 2023 and signed by Akeem Lawal, Director, Operation, on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, was received and acknowledged on July 20, by the office of the Permanent Secretary. Titled: “Investigation Activities”, the Commission stated that it was investigating alleged violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Relates Offences Act 2000. “Pursuant to Section 28 of the said Act, you are kindly requested to release the underlisted persons to appear before the undersigned at the ICPC headquarters on Thursday, July 20, 2023” the letter stated. Another similar letter referenced: ICPC/OPS/GBP/OBS/222, dated July 21, 2023, was written by the ICPC to the Permanent Secretary (Agric Ministry) for the attention of the Director, Finance and Account. The letter titled, “Investigation Activities” requested Permanent Secretary to release the Director, Finance and Account to appear at the ICPC. “The Commission is investigating alleged violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. “Pursuant to Section 28 of the above Act, you are kindly requested to release the Director, Finance and Account to appear before the undersigned on Wednesday 26th July, 2023 at the ICPC Headquarters Abuja, by 10:00am. “The officer is to come along with Certified True Copies of the under listed documents of ALL payments made to the following staff of Department of Farm Input Support Services Department from 1st January 2022 to date. Kwaido Mohammed S; Buba Ishaku Ardo; Damola Morenike; Elam Sam; Aminu Dayyabu Mohammed; Mohammed Ayuba George and Chimezie Bright” the letter stated. The documents requested by the ICPC were payment vouchers, minutes of authorizing the payment, authority letter to make payment, and any other relevant documents.  It was learnt that the civil servants were arrested in a sting operation in their office and ended up being remanded in the ICPC custody for five days, aside the Director that was released on health ground. A source hinted that a cummulative amount of over N600m withdrawals were made from one of the Director’s account and changed to dollars and allegedly given to the Permanent Secretary.  Asides this, it was learnt that huge sums of money were allegedly moved from the accounts of the department into private accounts of the affected civil servants.  Also, it was gathered that over N200m was found in the bank account of one of the officials that was grilled, while over N100m was found in the bank account of one of his children. A source said that over N250m cash was found in the Abuja house of one of the suspects just as investigation by the ICPC detectives revealed an inflow of over N60m in six months into the bank account of one of the suspects. The ICPC has also seized landed properties, including a bakery and one herbal hospital, it was revealed. In addition, it was said that over N200m was discovered from the account of one of the civil servants, over N100m also found in the child’s account, with over N250m cash found in his house around Lokogoma /Prince and Princess, 2 mansion properties at Karu Abuja, 2 plazas in Abuja; one around Lokogoma and the second at Karu, Abuja, one bakery, one herbal hospital. Also, a building property at Apo resettlement and another at Dawaki, an account linked to 2 companies account with huge sums of money etc were said to have been allegedly linked to the civil servants.  Speaking on grounds of anonymity, a source said, “The world is watching to see how this case will be handled by the ICPC despite overwhelming evidences against the PS, Director, Deputy Director and the other 3 staff. “It appears the investigation of the case has been stalled because the five senior staff of the department has resumed office, carry on as if nothing happened and have also continued work. “Some staff are being targeted and witch-hunted in the Department because of this issue.  “This is to draw the attention of the ICPC Chairman so that Nigerians will know what’s going on and to avoid the image of ICPC not to be tarnished because.” 

Job Racketeering: ICPC begins investigation of bribery allegation against Reps C’ttee

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced investigation into bribery allegations against the House of Representatives Committee on job racketeering and gross mismanagement in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson for ICPC, said this in a statement at the weekend in Abuja.Ogugua said that the ICPC received petitions from an online medium, Premium Times Nigeria; and Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, to investigate bribery allegations against the probe panel. The online medium published a story alleging that some members of the committee requested vice chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions to pay certain amounts to an account as bribes. The story also claimed that the account was dedicated for the purpose of giving a soft landing to any institutions’ that would pay the bribe money into it during the investigation. Members of the committee were also said to have engaged in extortion from heads of MDAs, including those of academic institutions. On Thursday, Gagdi had had said the committee wrote to ICPC to investigate the allegations of bribery and extortion against the members of the committee. The chairman said that the committee had written to ICPC to investigate the account number allegedly released to heads of tertiary institutions for payment of the bribe. “I have already written to the ICPC to investigate the account number that was published by an online medium the owner of that account, whether there is any transaction by vice chancellors and rectors of polytechnic in the country.” Gagdi threatened that the committee would take legal action against the online medium over the publication, which aim, he said, was to “blackmail and discredit” the committee. 

Anti-corruption groups demand transparency in investigation of Kano PCACC Chairman

A coalition of prominent civil society groups dedicated to combating corruption and promoting transparency and accountability is closely monitoring the alleged investigation of Barrister Muhyi Rimingado, Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (Kano State PCACC), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The statement, jointly signed by Olanrewaju Suraju of HEDA, Anwalu Musa Rafsanjani of CISLAC, David Ugolor of ANEEJ, Ibrahim M. Zikrullahi of CHRICED, and Muhammed Attah of PRADIN, underscores the coalition’s commitment to tracking developments in this case as they unfold. The coalition expresses concern that this probe follows the PCACC’s inquiry into alleged financial misconduct during the previous administration led by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who currently serves as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The coalition stands in support of Chairman Muhyi Rimingado, believing that he will emerge unscathed from the investigation. In their official statement, the coalition commends the EFCC and CCB for their efforts to uphold transparency and accountability. They call upon these agencies to conduct their duties with unwavering professionalism and integrity, free from political interference. The statement emphasizes the importance of an impartial and thorough inquiry into recent developments surrounding the investigation of the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman. The credibility and reputation of the Kano State PCACC depend on demonstrating transparency and fairness in its internal processes. All parties involved are urged to collaborate closely and adhere strictly to established legal procedures. The anti-corruption groups further call on the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission, the EFCC, and the CCB to foster a spirit of collaboration in their individual anti-corruption pursuits. Timely cooperation between these agencies is crucial to addressing historical and current allegations of corruption promptly and diligently. By working together, these organizations can significantly contribute to a governance framework in Kano State characterized by transparency and accountability. For these groups, the commitment to eradicating corruption goes beyond mere rhetoric; it represents a shared conviction that eliminating corruption is fundamental to sustainable development, social justice, and the overall well-being of society. The coalition remains optimistic that the involved agencies will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and make substantial contributions to the realization of a corruption-free Kano State while holding former public office holders in the state accountable for their actions before the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission.