The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has inaugurated Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The event which took place at the apex bank’s headquarters in Abuja recently is in continuation of ICPC’s drive to establish corruption-prevention mechanisms in government institutions.
Speaking at the occasion, the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who was represented by Barrister Ifeanyi Obialor of the Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Department (CMED), commended the leadership of CBN for taking a bold step in the anti-corruption drive of the Buhari administration by keying into the ACTU initiative of ICPC.
The Chairman said: “I wish to commend the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for supporting the fight against corruption by facilitating the inauguration of an anti-corruption unit in the apex bank. We at ICPC are aware of the fact that CBN has a mission to be proactive in providing a stable framework for managing the financial sector.”
“You may agree with me that this lofty goal cannot be achieved under an opaque or corrupt environment. ACTU would assist both ICPC and CBN to combat corrupt practices through in-house corruption prevention activities such as system study; preliminary investigation and enlightenment campaigns”, he explained.
Earlier in his opening remarks for the event, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by Mr. Abdullahi Bappa Ahmed, Director, Governor’s Department, had informed the gathering of CBN’s readiness to key into the federal government’s policies and programmes at all times.
“As a monitoring institution which helps the economy to grow, CBN is always willing and capable of handling all federal government policies and programmes, especially where corruption is involved,” Mr. Ahmed noted.
In his acceptance speech, the new ACTU Chairman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ohadiagha, expressed gratitude for being appointed and pledged to put in his best in order to ensure that the apex bank performs its duties with transparency.
In his words, “On behalf of the unit members, I thank the managements of CBN and ICPC for the opportunity accorded us to participate in this onerous task of ridding Nigeria of the ills of corruption, we will surely put in our best to make this happen.”
In addition to Mr. Ohadiagha, the 8 man anti-corruption unit has Ms. Salawa Zainab as the secretary, while Barrister Joy Nduka, Mr. Abdullahi B. I, Mr. Odah E. G and Ms. Ekaete Akpan are members, amongst others.