ICPC accuses federal lawmakers of stealing billions disguised as constituency projects
- The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered how federal lawmakers rob the country of billions of naira
- The ICPC revealed the results of its findings in a report signed by its chairman Owasanoye
- President Buhari had recently expressed unease at the spending of about N1 trillion on non-constituency projects without real benefits to citizens
A report by Premium Times claims that federal lawmakers are reportedly converting billions of naira listed in the budget as constituency project provisions to personal use.
According to the online news platform, this was revealed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in its recent report.
According to the report, there are at least two major ways federal lawmakers divert funds. These are
1. Duplicating contracts by using the same description, same narrative, same amount, same location and awarded by the same agency in order to fool ministries
2. Another method is through approval for unclear programmes like “capacity building and empowerment projects”. The funds for and nature of these projects usually vary in several ways.
The ICPC report, which was signed by its chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye, admitted that projects like these are so tough to track and verify.
Source: UGC
President Muhammadu Buhari had equally expressed concern over the loss of funds to phantom constituency projects.
President Buhari noted that despite about N1 trillion appropriated for constituency projects in the last ten years by the National Assembly, Nigerians are yet to benefit from the projects.
Buhari made the remarks in his speech at the national summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Service, which held on Tuesday, November 19, in Abuja.
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The words of the president had angered federal lawmakers, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party senate caucus telling the president to look elsewhere,
The caucus on Wednesday, November 20, directed President Muhammadu Buhari to his ministers and agencies saying these are those to hold accountable for the alleged failed N1 trillion constituency projects.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that as President Buhari's war against corruption rages on, some former public officers being probed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the ICPC have had their funds or assets forfeited to the federal government, either temporarily or permanently.
Those who were affected include former governors, ex-ministers and others who have held various public offices in the past.
The value of the forfeited assets by the former public officers stands at N21.8bn, $273.3m (N83.9bn at CBN’s exchange rate of 307) and £74,000 (N29.3m at CBN’s exchange rate of 396).
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Source: Legit.ng
