Probe parties in TETFund’s alleged abandoned projects, CSO tells ICPC 

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to extend its operations to the leadership of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The call followed the recent filing of charges against contractors allegedly involved in unexecuted projects paid for by TETFund. In a petition addressed to ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), and signed by HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the group commended the commission for filing charges against Paul Chukwuma and Fides Et Ratio Academy Ltd on September 10, 2024, as well as Adedeji Ladipo and Pole Global Marketing Limited on September 20, 2024, about alleged unexecuted contracts.

However, HEDA expressed concern that the TETFund leadership, which authorised “these contracts in violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) regulations, has yet to be held accountable.”

The organisation argued that the alleged offences were made possible through “actions initiated by the hierarchy of TETFund, making them co-conspirators in the corruption scheme.”

“Paying for unexecuted contracts in violation of extant laws not only robs Nigeria but also deprives Nigerians of essential infrastructure,” the petition stressed.

HEDA urged the ICPC to demonstrate impartiality and ensure that public officials and private institutions involved in corrupt practices are prosecuted diligently, and without bias.

The petition stated that prosecuting all parties was necessary to reinforce public trust in anti-corruption efforts and serve as a deterrent to others.