HURIWA backs ICPC over Okiro’s acquittal of fraud allegation

A pro-transparency non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA), has applauded the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) over the prompt investigations and verdict of non-indictment it handed over to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), retired Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro.

The group, which issued a media statement jointly endorsed by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, also warned against playing politics with the composition of the hierarchy of the Police Service Commission which is a constitutional body.

“Any attempt to instigate scandal involving the leadership of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro, with the objective of destabilising the board of the Commission as currently constituted without allowing them to exhaust their constitutional tenure should be condemned strongly,” HURIWA stated.

The rights group said the fact that Okiro subjected his authority to the close scrutiny of the anti-graft body and gave the investigators access to all documents relating to financial transactions is a demonstration of respect for the principles of transparency and accountability.

“We are delighted to read that the anti-graft body had quickly waded into the controversy generated by the allegation of financial scandal in the PSC and reached the determination that there is indeed no criminal liability on the side of the management team headed by Okiro”, it said.

HURIWA recalled that ICPC in its report on the investigation of the alleged scam had stated: “Our investigation has not revealed any act of criminal infraction against the person of Mike Mbama Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, as all issues outlined above are administrative in nature and within the ambits of career public servants han