June 29, 2006/thisday
The Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said that the Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and
the Nigeria Police Force are the most corrupt public institutions in Nigeria.
The Commission at a press
briefing in Abuja yesterday said this
was a result of various surveys of public institutions carried out in recent times across the country.
ICPC Chairman, Justice
Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, who was represented
at the briefing by Mr. Folu Olamiti, Consultant on Media and
Events, said public office holders and
government officials are now to hold
interactive sessions with the Commission and members of the press and the general public to intimate Nigerians on
how they are going about fighting
corruption in their organisations.
In his words, "Some surveys
have been taken in the last few years and
it has been held that the PHCN and the Nigeria Police are two of
the most corrupt public institutions in
Nigeria. In PHCN, over 500 staff have
been dismissed in the last two years for corruption and other related offences.
According to him, "Starting
from July 18th, the Commission will be
holding a monthly interactive session known as ICPC Guest Forum. Top government officials would be
invited to the auditorium to face the press and interested members of the
public.
They are to face public
scrutiny and brief on activities of their
various ministries. The Managing Director of Power Holding Company
of Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Makoju has
agreed to feature in the maiden edition
of the forum.
The chairman explained that
the forum was not aimed at laundering "We are asking them to come and let
Nigerians know what they are doing to
fight and check corruption in their
organisations, he said.
He said that the challenge
the Commission has been facing is
non-co-operation from the general public as regards petition and
evidence to support allegations made against public officials and political office holders.
On the allegation of graft
in the National assembly, he said. "We are expecting people to petition the
Commission and as soon as we get the
petition we go after them. We can not just work on assumptions and allegations
without supporting evidence. The chairman has said times without number that the public has to
lodge complaint, and the press that
broke the news probably have additional information to assist the Commission. Without all these, it
will be difficult to go after them.
Meanwhile, a Deputy Director
of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC is standing trial before an Abuja High Court for corrupt practices.
The case which comes up for
hearing on July 4th is before Justice Ishaq Bello.
The accused (names
withheld) was alleged to have recommended and used her company (McRoy Nig. Ltd) to obtain a
contract from INEC in contravention of
section 12 of the ICPC Act.