Gov Tambuwal Calls For Amendment To ICPC, EFCC Laws

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has called on the National Assembly to amend the laws establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Governor Tambuwal made the call while commissioning the new office complex of the ICPC in the State.

The Governor said the call became necessary in order to strengthen the process of petitioning by possibly bringing a novel idea of supporting every petition with an affidavit, photograph and signature of the petitioner.

He maintained that this would save precious time of investigators, the police and all of those who are involved in the fight against corruption, stressing that overall it will salvage the course of law.

Tambuwal said by the time they wasted so much time on investigating petition that are anonymous, it would be difficult for them to concentrate and face genuine cases of corruption more vigorously.

He said that those who are of the habit of using the ICPC and EFCC to embark on witch- hunt and blackmail would no longer use the platforms to settle scores.

The governor commended the federal government for establishing the ICPC offices.

He appeal to ICPC management to continue to resist pressures from political leaders and avoid politicisation in the fight against corruption.

Tambuwal, who commended Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for coming up with the idea of establishing ICPC in 2000, maintained that the fight against corruption was a collective responsibility.

He said all hands must be on deck to support the efforts of the Nigerian government and indeed every agency of the government in the fight.

The governor further said the state government is committed to continue to support and collaborate with the Commission in the state, especially in the sensitisation of the public and civil servants on the issue of corruption and governance in the society.

He directed the state ministry of information to continue to collaborate with ICPC where necessary on television and radio, maintaining that media trial of suspects should be avoided by the ICPC.

He commended the initiative of project tracking by the Commission, adding that it is very important to keep tab on those serving in government.

On his part, the Chairman of the ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanye, said the Sokoto state office started in February 2019 and was completed in March 2020 and had been in use since August 2020.

He said the commission was effectively operating in 15 states of the federation spread equally across the six geo-political zones.

The chairman thanked the governor for providing a conducive environment which led to the early completion of the project.