59 directors arrested for moving N3bn from government’s kitty
The chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasaonye has said that the agency discovered N12 billion padded into the salaries of some Ministries Agencies and Departments (MDAs).
Owasanoye who disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja , said about N9.2 billion was first stopped after the ICPC discovered that monies meant for salaries were over-budgeted while another N3 billion was uncovered after salaries were paid to workers.
The ICPC boss, who did not mention the names of the MDAs indicted, said the ICPC had after tracing the funds stopped them from accessing them.
Uwasaonye also disclosed that 59 directors were recently arrested for using their accounts to move over N3 billion from government coffers.
He said the funds were moved to their individual accounts without proper explanation thereby prompting the agency to step in and apprehend them.
He said the agency recovered the funds and released the civil servants on bail while investigation continued.
Speaking on constituency projects, Owasanoye said over 400 projects were evaluated in the first phase of the exercise while 317 companies were profiled due to their activities with the projects concerned.
Uwasaonye said the ICPC compelled over 200 contractors to return to site to complete the abandoned projects.
He added that the agency’s findings revealed that some officials of some MDAs collaborated with lawmakers and contractors to commit financial in the execution of constituency projects.
On why the ICPC was yet to arrest the indicted lawmakers, Uwasaonye said the objective of the exercise was to recover and ensure that the constituency projects in the affected communities were given to them and not necessarily to arrest or prosecute defaulters.
He said some of the lawmakers and contractors who failed to key to the ICPC investigative strategy would be prosecuted.
With ThisDay report
