The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has commended the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, for giving extra bite and purpose to the fight against corruption and illicit acquisition of public wealth, since he assumed office.
Mr. Debo Adeniran, CACOL’s Executive Chairman, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Media and Publications, Adegboyega Otunuga, recollected that just last week, his group issued a release assessing various intervention funds, in cash and in kind to different tiers of government and their agencies in assisting to concretely combat the scourge of Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has continued to ravage individuals and societies with dire consequences to lives and economies of states all over the world.
He stressed that in conceptualising government’s response and different interventions, both locally and internationally, CACOL praised friendly and good-spirited nations and individuals who had since come to the aid of the nation by donating billions of naira and provided all kinds of assistance in necessary equipment and expertise towards dealing with the global pandemic and assuaging the sufferings of victims and other individuals who might be affected or inconvenienced through measures adopted by the state like lockdown, etc.
Adeniran stressed: “Consequently, we had demanded that appropriate measures be taken by the anti-corruption agencies towards monitoring of receipts and applications of such interventions, in a way that promotes transparency and accountability in the management of the funds.
“It was, therefore, a great relief that the leadership of ICPC under this dispensation responded to the challenge by setting up a monitoring team in this regard.
READ ALSO: Coronavirus: CACOL Seeks Probe Of Killing Of Eight Kaduna Prison Inmates
“This is despite the existence of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, as this effort is in sync with Section 6 (b) – (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; and its preventive mandate provided for under same Section.
“This should effectively prevent financial abuse in the management of the funds meant in battling the pandemic and assisting its victims. It would also hold defaulters accountable where they have been able to sneak through the eye of the anti-corruption needle.”
The CACOL boss added, “It is quite germane and remarkable that the ICPC under this leadership has learnt from mistakes of the past where actions were only taken after the deeds were done.
“Meanwhile, dealing with corruption after its committal has never been an easy assignment as, ‘prevention is always better than cure’ as the saying goes.
“We also use this opportunity to pledge our cooperation and useful assistance in the provisions of information and other means through which a judicious application and accountability of all these intervention funds could be converted while a few misguided elements with the corruption etched in their DNA would be collectively fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent.”
