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STOP THE ILLEGAL DETENTIONS IN ICPC NOW BUHARI TOLD

The Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Matters Offences Commission (ICPC) were set as an anti-corruption agency to rein in persons involved in suspected shady deals and sharp practices. But in recent times as investigations have revealed The commission appears to have derailed as it is fast losing that tag as an anti-corruption agency.  Preliminary investigations have unearthed some sharp practices of illegal detentions on spurious charges, unauthorized raid and sealing of victims houses and unwarranted blockages of victim’s accounts. “This bad practice must be discontinued” declared Mr Rafiu Ibrahim, Secretary-General of Association for Good Governance and Transparency (AFGT). Throwing more light on the sad development, the Secretary-General wondered why the ICPC would detain without charges any suspected Nigerian for upwards of two weeks without proceeding to court, while systematically extorting various sums of money from the detained Nigerian.  The Secretary-General disclosed that a secret visit to the detention centres of the Commission shows that a number of Nigerians are languishing in Cells without trials—or charged to court. An insider revealed thus: “That’s the racket; they would pretend that you are about to be charged to court; next thing they ask you for large sums of money; soon they would proceed to magistrate court where an illegal injunction is obtained for your continued detention”, lamented Mr Rafiu. “They never knew they were under surveillance”, he remarked. Particularly worrisome, is the activities of two prominent officers one Mr Hakeem Lawal who is said to be the Head of Operations and another Mr Shogunle head of legal services. “Both of them are believed to be running a ring so powerful that it is said that the Chairman is kept in the dark most times. “This is very unfortunate”, decried Mr Rafiu. According to him, President Buhari must not allow these officers to tarnish his anti-=Corruption campaign due to self and personal interest. “Look at what happened in EFCC and the NDDC; the ICPC must not be allowed to be derailed as evidence shows”, Rafiu explained. He then expressed the desire that there are insinuations that because both officers are linked with the Vice-President, they are above the law. “For instance Mr Lawal had worked with the vice-President in Lagos in his former office, so why must he be brought to ICPC?”, Questioned Mr Rafiu.  The Secretary-General, therefore, called on President Buhari to initiate a clean sweep of the Commission as it can no longer sustain its anti-graft fervour adding that they have betrayed trust reposed on them by Nigerians. “This is the time to remove Professor Bolaji Owasanoye for condoning these sharp practices”, said Rafiu. “We are trying to rein in insurgents and bandits and now here we have officials who terrorise Nigerians for no just cause”, he stated. The case of one comrade who is the President of Nigerians in Diaspora is brewing discontent in the circles of Civil Society and influential citizens as he was allegedly subjected to inhume treatment on trumped-up charges. “That man is in the hospital today because of what the ICPC did to him “They even locked up his account and sealed his house and denied him access to

his drugs”, charged Mr Rafiu. “Who empowered the ICPC to treat a Nigerian like that?” he queried. “We are going to petition the Presidency on this and if nothing is done we shall stage a public de3monstration to make sure that those officers linked to the VP are sanctioned and brought to book “ he announced.


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