ICPC blocks unspent funds to prevent steadling
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Rampant stealing of federal government funds is being plugged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which says it has just blocked N189 billion in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
ICPC Special Operations Head Bako Nathan said unspent money totaling N189 billion in 2019 and 2020 was discovered and blocked so it would not be diverted.
He told the House of Representatives panel probing corruption and abuse of nominal rolls and other sleazes in MDAs that the ICPC has been investigating corrupt practices in MDAs over the years.
Nathan narrated how the ICPC blocked billions of naira dubiously spent and kept to shortchange the treasury.
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Thieves investigating thieves
The panel has also summoned Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed, and other heads of MDAs over the corruption discoveries, per reporting by The Nation.
Federal Auditor General Adolphus Aghughu has documented diversion, misappropriation, and stealing of funds in various annual reports on MDAs.
He also discovered N8.54 billion “missing, misappropriated or stolen” in the National Assembly (NASS) in the four years between 2015 and 2018.
Besides, the ICPC discovered how lawmakers used medical outreach to divert and steal at least N260 billion public funds.
Meaning that a grand total of N268.54 has been diverted and stolen by lawmakers, and that is based only on what is in the public domain.
Invitation to all MDAs
Other MDAs already summoned by the committee include:
- Federal Civil Service Head
- Federal Accountant General
- Federal Auditor General
- ICPC Chairman.
- Federal Character Commission Chief Executive Officer
- IPPIS Officer in Charge
Committee Chairman Dachung Bagos said letters would be written to all MDAs that did not attend the sitting, and warned that anyone who fails to show up would be treated as among those bloating their nominal rolls to defraud the government.
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