The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has dropped two persons nominated to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC. They were dropped for reportedly being under investigation by the same commission.
Osinbajo had last week named a new chairman and board members for the commission.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, disclosed on his Twitter handle on Sunday that the nomination of the affected persons had been stepped down.
Akande wrote, “We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues with the commission as this presents a conflict.
“While existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them from considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating the two of them.
“A basic check showed no court convictions against them; but when weighty petitions come up, this administration will always do the right thing.”
Akande had on Friday told our correspondent that the allegation against the two nominees would be thoroughly investigated.
“These claims would be promptly investigated. The Presidency will surely do only what is right, proper and seen to be so,” Akande had said.
Osinbajo had on Tuesday redeployed the Chairman of the ICPC, Ekpo Nta, to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. In his place, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye was appointed as chairman with a renewable tenure of five years.
Owasanoye was part of the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption.
Also appointed as members of the ICPC board are Dr Grace Chinda, Okolo Titus, Obiora Igwedebia, Mrs Olubukola Balogun, Group Capt. Sam Ewang (retd.), Justice Adamu Bello, Hannatu Mohammed and Abdullahi Maikano Saidu.
Others are Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Umar Daud, Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki, Maimuna Aliyu while Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar would serve as secretary.
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