The Coalition against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has commended the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on their effort so far in ensuring that corrupt public officials are grilled and quizzed.

This came on the heels of the quizzing of the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro and the former Governor of Borno State, Mr. Ali Modu Sherrif. Okiro was quizzed over his alleged involvement in a N275m fraud during his tenure as the Police Service Commission boss while the ex-governor of Borno was invited over an alleged mismanagement of N300bn during his tenure.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran commended the ICPC and EFCC for their effort so far on the cases.

He said, “The effort of the anti-graft agencies though late, is worthy of commendation. It must be noted that public officers find it so easy to plummet the coffers of their respective states and nation because they are not made to publicly declare their assets. The cat would have been let out of the bag much earlier if their asset declaration had been on ground for people to be able to monitor the progress that he was making in administration.  By this no corrupt public officials would have been allowed to stay in office longer than necessary.

As for the Ex-governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sheriff accused of embezzling of funds of over N300bn and abuse of office while he was in power, though it is a good thing that he was the one who turned himself over to the EFCC, still the EFCC should ensure that proper investigation is carried and if he is found guilty by the court of law, he should be allowed to face the penalty. Also since he is on administrative bail, the EFCC should ensure that he doesn’t leave the country for any reason whatsoever, until proper investigation is done or until he is declared innocent by a competent court.

And for the former IG, if the need arises for him to be taken to court and persecuted after wards, the  ICPC should ensure that he goes through the judicial process and if found guilty he should be persecuted equally for it; because no corrupt culprit should be allow to go unpunished.   They should be used as an example for others who may want to indulge in any corruption act.”

The Coalition however urged the anti-agencies to keep up the good work and ensure that they make the process a diligent, open and a transparent one.

SOURCE: Universal Reporters.