By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Signature TV wants the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate staff of the National Examination Council (NECO) for alleged examination scandal at a centre in Kaduna State.
Vinmartin Ilo, Signature TV Chief Executive Officer, made the call at the launch of Corruption Tori Season Two in Abuja where he reiterated that investigation by the broadcaster revealed NECO officials colluded with candidates to cheat.
“The story, which was published by more than 25 media houses a day after it broke, led to the flagging up of the examination centre in Kaduna by NECO and an investigative enquiry was set up by the NECO Board,” he said.
He lamented that despite the promise made by NECO to send the findings to the ICPC for further investigation, nothing has been heard of the case again.
Ilo called on the ICPC to step in bring anyone culpable to justice.
Speaking at the launch, ICPC Chairman Bolaji Owasanoye said it is natural for beneficiaries of the status quo to fight against initiatives that seek to stop corruption, because whenever “corruption is threatened, it fights back.”
Owasanoye, represented by ICPC Assistant Director, Hassan Salihu, insisted that corruption threatens national security as well as political and socio-economic development.
He said the objective of Corruption Tori of causing attitudinal change among Nigerians aligns with the National Ethics and Integrity Policy (NEIP) of the ICPC.
NEIP, which seeks the return of Nigerians to values that made the country great in the past, was developed in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
It was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on August 19, 2020 and launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 28, 2020.
Owasanoye said the ICPC is making significant inroads with its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative; and System Study and Review, as contractors who had abandoned projects have been forced back to site with billions of naira saved for the treasury.
Corruption Tori, which is supported by MacArthur Foundation, is aired on African Independent Television (AIT) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
It seeks attitudinal change and urges Nigerians to demand accountability and transparency by holding leaders to account.
