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The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has explained the seeming lull in conclusion of corruption cases in Nigeria, especially those of the ICPC, stressing the imperative to ensure sound investigations in line with provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Nigeria’s Constitution, before going public on particular cases.
Owasanoye who spoke, Tuesday, at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Keffi, Nasarawa State, in his opening remark at a two-day Capacity Building Training for the Media on Anti-corruption Reportage organised by the ICPC, stressed the importance of due diligence, over and over, to ensure allegations were error proof, warranting positive outcomes during judicial trials…against the trend of defence teams easily finding loopholes, and the trial judge declaring the allegations not being proven beyond reasonable doubts and then striking them out for want of diligent prosecution.
He underscored the need to always exercise care not to injure the reputation of innocent citizens on account of shoddy investigation, because an image, once damaged, takes quite a long time to rebuild, apart from the possibility of the injured pursuing his fundamental right on defamation.
The ICPC Chairman, therefore, charged the general public, especially the media, to always exercise patience and wait for error proof investigations that cannot be meaningfully challenged.
He, rather, charged the media to always embark on investigative reporting, with a view to unearthing behind-the-scene corruption activities going on, for public good and in the interest of the general public.
An array of resource persons lined up for thought provoking lectures on various areas of anti-corruption processes, equally did justice to their various areas of focus. These include: Dr MA Baba, who spoke on “ICPC Initiatives (CEPTG, NEIP, NVC) – Overview of the Public Enlightenment & Education”; Mr. Akeem Lawal – “Understanding Anti-Corruption Issues – Overview of ICPC Mandate (Focus on the Enforcement Mandate)”; Mr Dayo Aiyetan of ICIR- “Investigative Journalism and Challenges of Reporting Corruption”; Alhaji Yusuf Ali of The Nation Newspapers – “The Role of the Media in Fighting Corruption”; Mr Kayode Adedayo – “ICPC Initiatives and Operations (IFFs, Asset Recovery, etc)”; and Mr Abbia Udofia – “Understanding ICPC Preventive Mandate.”
Others include: Mr Ebenezer Shogunle – “ICPC Initiatives – Sexual Harassment (Abuse of Office), Understanding Court Cases, etc”; among a whole lot of others.
Pursuant to the above, the Spokesperson of ICPC, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, sought the understanding of the media against seeming delay in providing quick answers to their inquiries, advising them to always exercise restraints in line with the commission’s due processes./SHARE THIS
- Tags: Prof Bolaji Owasanoye,SAN, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, ICPC