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Barr.
Ekpo Nta
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TheCable
reports the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission
(ICPC) has recovered and returned to the owners, funds totalling almost ₦1
billion looted by ministry officials. Speaking
at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja while returning the funds
to the appropriate quarters, Ekpo Nta, chairman of ICPC, warned state
governments not to tamper with the bailout funds released for their respective
states by the federal government for immediate payment of workers salaries.
The report continues:
He
said ICP will consistently monitor the funds and their disbursement in all the
states that benefited. He added that he was giving the warning due
to reports that the bailout funds were not being properly utilized.
“We
understand that the bailout funds released to states by the federal government
have not been going towards the proper channel. It is important to state here
today that the bailout is from the federal government to the states to assist
them in paying the salaries of workers,” he said.
“We
will from now on be following how the funds are disbursed in different states
to ensure that they get to the appropriate beneficiaries. This is because it is
government funds.”
During
the occasion, ICPC handed over the looted sum of ₦924 million to the
ministry of environment, represented by Fatimat Mede, permanent secretary; and
Ahmed Goni director-general of the Great Green Wall Project.
Recovered
from different banks, the money was allegedly stolen from the account of the
ministry by some officials “who are facing prosecution at the moment”.
Nta
also handed over a total sum of N58 million spread among the Federal Girls
College, Shagamu; Federal Science and Technology College, Ijebu Mushin; and
Federal Government College, Odogbolu, which received ₦28
million, ₦8 million and ₦20 million respectively
through their principals.
According
to Nta, the funds handed over to the schools were part of the total sum of ₦103
million fund voted for meal subsidies of students and capital projects in the
aforementioned schools, whereas the lump sum was diverted by a federal pay
officer in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
He vowed
that since investigations were still ongoing on the diverted fund, the commission
would recover the entire amount so diverted so far and return them to the
owners.
“The
successes achieved so far are hinged on the prompt reporting by the ministries
and agencies of government, especially by their permanent secretaries, and of
course the balanced reporting by the media,” he said.
“ICPC
will continue to recover looted public finds and other proceeds arising from
criminal activities linked to corruption investigations and return same to
government coffers or to the victims in line with our mandate.”
Responding, Mede thanked
the ICPC for the recovered loot, saying it will go a long way in
addressing some of the pressing issues, most especially the Great Green Wall
programme of the federal government.
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