ICPC probes four govs over alleged graft

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Sunday said it had started  investigating four governors over alleged misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.

 Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ekpo Nta.

 

A statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said the ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, stated this during a programme on Splash FM in Ibadan.

The statement also said the commission had sent some of its operatives to Canada for forensic investigations training on cashless transaction.

Nta, however, declined to name the governors, saying, “It will jeopardise our investigations”.

He said, “It should be noted that those (governors) invited for questioning are still innocent until prima facie cases are made against them. So, those who have no case to answer will be allowed to go as freemen with their image intact.

“Since 2011, shortly after the Central Bank of Nigeria announced cashless transaction, we have sent some of our officials to Canada to be trained in forensic investigations. I have gone into negotiations with Canada and United States for their governments to give more opportunities to ICPC officials to be trained in that field.”

According to the ICPC boss, the anti-graft agency was collaborating with stakeholders to check Internet fraud in the country.

He added that the commission’s effort in ridding the country of Internet fraudsters had yielded positive results with the clampdown on four alleged 419 fraudsters known as Yahoo Yahoo boys in Owerri, Imo State, through a joint operation between ICPC and Nigeria Customs Service.

He said the alleged Yahoo Yahoo boys had even gone a step further by setting up a school where they teach youngsters how to professionalise in the illicit business.

Apart from Internet fraud becoming a major business, Nta said, its modus operandi had become highly technical.

He assured that the ICPC was ready to combat the menace.

Promising that there would not be any hiding place for the Yahoo Yahoo boys, Nta said he would deplore more Internet technology experts to fish out these fraudsters.

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