By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Up to N120 million advanced to borrowers in the Adamawa State Commercial Farmers Loans Scheme has been recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), says Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
He made the disclosure at the commissioning of the Adamawa office of the ICPC in Yola and applauded the Commission for its contributions to the promotion of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
“The introduction of various governance reforms, especially the establishment of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units in MDAs, have been playing pivotal roles in ensuring that public officials observe due process in the conduct of government affairs,” said Fintiri, represented by his Deputy, Crowther Seth.
He underscored the partnership between Adamawa and the ICPC, which he said has contributed greatly to the realisation of government programmes and policies.
He urged the ICPC to help build the capacity of public officials, especially members of the Anti-corruption Units in MDAs, to resist the temptation of corruption and have a full grasp of anti-graft laws in official and private dealings.
ICPC Chairman Bolaji Owasanoye expressed gratitude to Fintiri and the people of Adamawa for their generous support for the Commission.
He said the ICPC is empowered by law to set up offices in the 36 states and the one in Adamawa is the third to be launched after those in Oyo and Sokoto.
The Yola office was among the second set of state offices the ICPC established in 2007 with a few staff in rented accommodation.
The new office building “is in fulfilment of ICPC’S dream to own its offices in all the states of the federation,” Owasanoye said.
It also “fulfill[s] the promise made by the Commission at a National Anti-Corruption Summit held in February 2018 here in Yola to complement the effort of Adamawa State in establishing agencies like the Public Procurement Agency and for incorporating the provisions of the ICPC Act in the state’s penal code.”
Owasanoye thanked former Governor Murtala Nyako who approved the allocation of the plot of land for the office complex in 2012.
Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Senate Committee Chairman, Suleiman Kwari, represented by Senator Binos Yaro, thanked the ICPC for properly utilisising finances and promised to support its effort through legislation.
Anti-Corruption House of Representatives Committee Chairman, Garba Shehu, commended Fintiri and the ICPC for the development.
Shehu said the fight against corruption in Adamawa in particular, and the North East in general, will receive a fresh impetus by commissioning the office, which will help deliver the mandate of the ICPC.