The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has denied media reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) carted away incriminating files relating to either President Bola Tinubu and his close aides or former President Muhammadu Buhari and his aides, from its facility and that of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The report particularly accused Nigeria’s secret police of making moves to stifle investigation of politically exposed persons by ICPC and other agencies saddled with investigation corruption in high places.
And like the ICPC, a source at the DSS said not activity or raid was carried out against any government agency saying the secret police is not in the business of interfering with another governor agencies to the extent of interrupting any investigation.
The source described the report as an imagination of the writer and no element of truth in it.
The ICPC on its part took to its verified social media handles on Saturday, specifically refuted a news report titled, ‘Secret Police, DSS Carts Away Files Implicating President Tinubu, Close Aides From ICPC, CCB’.
In a statement issued via the verified accounts, ICPC described the news report as fake and irresponsible.
LEADERSHIP, however observed that ICPC made separate references to former President Muhammadu Buhari and aides and also incumbent President Tinubu and aides, with uncertainty as to who among the two leaders and their aides were at the centre of any investigation.
“The attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been drawn to a spurious news report by online medium, Saharareporters titled ‘Secret Police, DSS Carts Away Files Implicating President Buhari, close Aides from ICPC, CCB’.
“The Commission hereby refute the report by Saharareporters and state unequivocally that there were no files implicating President Tinubu or close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states and therefore the alleged carting away of such imaginary files is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public.
“While the Commission does not dispute the role of the media to inform the public, it is however deeply disturbed by irresponsible practice and non-adherence to the tenets of the journalism profession by some media outlets.
“For the umpteenth time, the Commission wishes to urge media organisations not to allow the use of their medium to propagate lies and unfounded reports by subversive agents. The Commission’s channels of communications remain open for clarification and confirmation.”
However, a security source also confirmed that the DSS never embarked on such mission.
Don’t Shield Politically Exposed Nigerians, CSOs Tell Govt, Security Agencies
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Nigerian government and the anti-corruption agencies not to shield politically exposed persons from corruption investigation.
According to the CSOs, interfering with the activities of the anti-corruption agencies in an effort to shield politically exposed politicians will have a far reaching effect on the image of the country internationally.
The CSOs who spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday are Transparency International (TI), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).
Speaking through their leader, Awwal Musa Rafsanjani, the CSOs said the DSS should clear the air on the alleged invasion of the office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses (ICPC) and the carting away of files.
According to Rafsanjani, many Nigerians will not believe that such an action was carried out by the DSS adding that government agencies should collaborate when it comes to fighting crimes and corruption.
“We must not jump to conclusions. We must establish the fact that it was the DSS officials that carried out such a raid. The DSS must talk to Nigerians whether such an action at the ICPC office was carried out by their men or not because this is shocking,” Rafsanjani said.
According to the CSOs, the DSS is supposed to support the effort of other security agencies to ensure that the fight against corruption succeed and not to resort to invading anti-graft agencies offices.
“If this affects the ICPC’s investigation, it is an unhealthy development and we want the the DSS to own up because we believe that with inter agency cooperation, the DSS should have asked the ICPC to give them the files through official means,” Rafsanjani said while calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow the anti-graft agencies to do their job rather than other government agencies trying to shield politically exposed people.
“We are beginning to see how people facing corruption charges are being considered for appointments. This government must not create opportunities for protecting politically exposed people.
“If that happens, it will affect the country’s image internationally. There will be a huge image deficiency for the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senator who represented Kaduna South (2015-2019), Shehu Sani has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to consider for appointment, former governors who divided and wrecked their states.
Sani in his Threads account, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should ensure that he investigates former President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers.
“Two things President Tinubu must avoid; one, shielding the Buhari ministers from probe. Two, rewarding former governors who looted their states,” Sani said.
High Court Stops Kano Govt, DSS, Others From Arresting Ganduje, Family Members
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court sitting in Kano has restrained the state government, its agents, the police and Department of State Services among others, from arresting a former governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his family members and associates.
The court presided over by Justice A. M. Liman in an exparte order granted the respondents’ prayers while ruling on an application by Ganduje for the enforcement of his fundamental right to fair hearing, private and family life, and acquiring and owning property.
Ganduje, who listed the Nigeria Police, Inspector-General of Police, Department of State Services, Kano State government, Kano State anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission among others as respondents, in a motion filed on Friday urged the court to restrain the respondents from arresting or harassing him or any of his associates.
The order stated: “The respondents whether themselves, or acting through their officers, men, operatives, agents, privies or any person or group of persons howsoever described from harassing, intimidating, inviting, threatening to arrest, arresting, detaining the applicant or his children or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under the administration of the applicant or forcefully taking over of the applicant’s properties or his children or any member of his family, or any appointee who served under the administration of the applicant pending determination of the applicant’s substantive originating motion on the matter.
“That the interim order shall operate pending the hearing of the motion for enforcement of his fundamental rights.”
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