The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has stated that it has recovered N454.805b worth of assets in four years.
This was Revealed at a two-day training organised by the commission for journalists covering anti-corruption, in Abuja. According to Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Jude Okoye, “the commission has, additionally, recorded 90 convictions within the period.”
Mr. Okoye said “the convictions were recorded in 4,737 investigated cases by the commission, with many still pending in various courts.”
He noted that, through Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiatives, the Commission was able to track 3422 projects.
Giving a breakdown of the recovered assets, Mr. Okoye said, “N9.341 billion was cash recovery in ICPC account and N67.236 billion from ICPC Intervention Investigation, while N257.492 billion were funds restrained through final forfeiture.”
According to him, the sum of N2.865 billion was recovered from Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiatives, CEPTI, and other assets.
Another N45.280 billion, Mr. Okoye noted, were from CEPTI-completed projects on return of contractors.
He also said that, ICPC has recovered N26.573 billion from cash restrained through budget tracking.
Mr. Okoye who called for the support of all Nigerians in the war against corruption, expressed the commitment of ICPC to continue to synergise with government agencies and development partners in the fight against corruption.
Speaking on the essence of the capacity building, the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, said the training would strengthen the capacity of journalists in reporting anti-corruption in Nigeria accurately without bias.
Owasanoye, therefore, cautioned the media to be wary of fake news as it was threatening national stability.
“Fake news and biased reporting threaten all of us. They threaten stability, professional competencies and our livelihoods,” he said.
The Chairman said that the workshop would offer an opportunity for the Commission and the media to agree on how to communicate professionally with the risk of fake news constantly under consideration.
He urged the participants to use the opportunity to establish a relationship with ICPC and not just a relationship that demands the Commission to disclose which high-profile case it was investigating.
“Reporters should seek for a relationship that will help discuss how to deal with the scourge of corruption and the attendant challenges and risks associated with that battle,” Owasanoye admonished.
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