‘How ICPC stopped diversion of N5.8b by MDAs, recovered N29.7b assets’

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, has said the commission stopped the diversion of N5.882 billion while conducting Systems Study and Review (SSR) for 323 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

Aliyu, who made the disclosure, yesterday, in Abuja at an event to mark his one year in office, said the SSR for MDAs was conducted through its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).

“As part of its commitment to institutional accountability, the commission assessed 323 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).

“It also established 80 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) across MDAs to reinforce its anti-corruption efforts. While doing these, the commission stopped the diversion of public funds to the tune of ₦5.882 billion.”

Aliyu further disclosed that the commission had also recovered assets worth N29.70 billion in cash, domiciled in ICPC recovery accounts, in addition to N10.986 billion Value Added Tax (VAT) recovered and remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

According to the ICPC boss, N10 billion meant for the production of vaccines during COVID-19 was also recovered and remitted to the treasury, adding that the value of assets through final forfeiture gulped N2.5 billion in the same year under review.

On foreign currency recovery, Aliyu noted that the commission retrieved $966,900.83, now secured in the ICPC-CBN account balance brought forward, maintaining that the commission just completed the tracking of 1,500 projects, valued at N610 billion, nationwide under CEPTI Phase 7.

“Upon completion of tracking field work last week, follow-up activities are ongoing and the report is being collated. However, the report of the Phase Six exercise conducted about this same time last year is ready and will be released to the public today.”

Aliyu disclosed that the report of the EICS exercise conducted middle of this year was ready and would be released to the public through the media.

He added that the ICPC had processed 851 petitions, with 342 assigned for investigation, 95 fully investigated, 72 cases filed in court and 16 convictions secured.

“In this regard, we are streamlining our processes to ensure faster and more effective prosecution of cases, leading to the resuscitation of 10-15-year-old cases in courts.

“We have also advanced the fight against sexual harassment and corruption in educational institutions and public offices, achieving ongoing prosecutions and increased public support,” Aliyu added, noting that the move had reduced stigma and given victims a voice to report and participate in efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.