EFCC, ICPC Urged To Probe FCT Director Over Abuse Of Office

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to investigate the director, Procurement of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Onsachi Idris, for allegedly owning and running private companies while still in service.

The group said his action breached the extant rules and amounted to abuse of office.

In a statement signed in Abuja by NACAT’s executive director of investigation, Oghenedoro Tega, he said NACAT is petitioning all those mentioned above. He insisted the NGO’s findings showed that the director did not declare his companies to the Code of Conduct Bureau as stipulated by the law while holding public office.

When contacted, Idris acknowledged NACAT’s investigations and promised to send in his response but failed to do so.

When LEADERSHIP contacted Idris via calls and messages on WhatsApp, he said he will send in his response but 48 hours after, he was yet to do so.

Tega said,  “NACAT’s findings revealed that the director and some of his members have interest as directors in the companies, ‘Hollywood Films, Television and Creative Arts Institute Limited – RC 1280962 – registered on 14th August 2015 and El-Meela Heritage International School Limited – RC – 1282658, registered on 24th August 2015, but he did not declare them in his Assets and Liabilities Declaration Forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau, in compliance with the law.

“Paragraph 1(1) of Part 1 of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, mandates public office holders whether elected, appointed, recruited, contracted etc., by whatever name called to file their assets and liabilities declaration forms/returns with the Code of Conduct Bureau in respect of themselves, spouse and children under the age of 18 years and above.

“The CCB Act also states that: ‘Every Public Officer is to NOTE that it is the requirement of the Law to declare his/her assets/liabilities on (a) Assumption of office; (b) At the end of his term of Office, (c). At intervals of four years for Public Officers on continuous employment of Government whether Federal, State or Local Government: (d) and at such other intervals as the Bureau may determine from time to time.’

“Also, Section 172 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) enjoins all persons in the public service to conform to the Code of Conduct. The Fifth Schedule (Part 1) (Section 5) of the Constitution says that;

“A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities”.

The anti-graft group further threatened to take legal action if the right authorities failed to probe the director for the alleged offence.

“As an NGO with a mandate to fight corruption and various anti-corruption wars to our credit, we are concerned that such an official would be allowed to continue in the service without appropriate investigative action and/or punitive actions taken against him.

“That is why we are calling on the relevant agencies to begin a probe of the director,” the statement added.