ICAN Pledges to promote anti-corruption drive

The President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Otunba Samuel Femi Deru has vowed that the Institute would continue to stand out in waging war against corruption in line with the ethics of the profession.

He made the comment yesterday during the investiture ceremony of Mrs. Titilola Ariyike Nurat Akibayo as the National Chairperson and Head of the Executive Council of The Association of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) as well as the wearing in of SWAN Executive officers and Award of Scholarship which took place at Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos.

“During our last conference, we made a representation to the government on how we are going to assist in fighting corruption.

“We believe that with integrity and accuracy as our “moto”, we are in the best position to join hands with the government to fight corruption” he said.

Deru said the Institute would continue to protect the integrity of the Institute as members of the Institute dominate a lot of organizations including government bodies.

“The truth is that not everybody that is called an accountant is a chartered accountant. When we say that someone is a chartered accountant, he is in a class, trained, nurtured and educated in a way that is unique.
“Chartered Accountants are special breed” he emphasized.

Deru added that because some aspects of the curriculum of the accountancy profession covers integrity, an average member of the Institute cannot afford to be corrupt.

“If any Accountant is caught, there is a bitter pill as we have our own disciplinary tribunal where we put people on trial and it has the recognition of the high court.

“Culprit would have to hire a lawyer to defend him and this is the reason we are known to be a profession with integrity.

“If anyone catches any of our chartered accountants with fraud or crime, the person should be reported and we will take disciplinary action against him. We are open. Any of our members that plays foul of the ethics of the profession would face disciplinary action” he said.

Commenting on the investiture ceremony, Deru said the Institute felt proud of the Society of Woman Accountants of Nigeria.

“They complement ICAN and are very useful in the emancipation of catch them young programme which ICAN is propagating”