The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) of the Delta State office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Edet Ufot, has assured Deltans that all valid and relevant petitions sent to the Commission will receive their deserved attention.
Ufot was speaking during a
courtesy visit to the Commission’s office in Asaba recently by Exco members of the state branch of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) led by the Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu.
The RACC, while expressing his appreciation to them for taking time out to visit the Commission, emphasized the importance of the media in the fight against corruption. He said that without them it would be quite difficult, if not impossible, to disseminate the anti-corruption message effectively for the desired change in society.
He explained that petitions are a vital factor in the work of ICPC, and that the Commission treats all valid and relevant ones with the seriousness they deserve including anonymous ones.
Ufot therefore urged them to help create awareness on the presence of ICPC in the state so that residents would know where to take their petitions to.
He also used the opportunity to enlighten the visitors on the Commission’s mandate-areas of Enforcement, Prevention, as well as Public Enlightenment and Education.
The RACC appealed to them to support the Commission to achieve its mandate saying: “Nobody sees you when you wink in the dark. ICPC needs you to shine the light for people to see it winking”.
Earlier, Comrade Ikeogwu had given a brief address stating that he was happy that the Commission now had an office in Delta State which would give an opportunity for the people of Delta to be able to easily report cases to the Commission, and added that they in the media would work together with the Commission to spread information about its good works.
Finally, he gave assurance that Deltans know their rights and do not shy away from writing petitions. This, according to him, would be obvious to the Commission soon.
Ikeogwu therefore urged ICPC officers to be of high integrity as expected in order to succeed in the fight against corruption. He also said he would invite the Commission to their Congress later in the year to educate members on the role of the media in the fight against corruption.
In his own contribution, the Head of Operations for Delta State Office, Barr. Olatunji Yusuf, affirmed all that was stated by the RACC and added that an informant’s identity was protected by the ICPC ACT 2000 in S. 64 and as such a petitioner’s information is also protected.
Also speaking during the visit, the Secretary of the State Union of Journalist, Comrade Patrick Oche, stated that the Union was ready and available to support the Commission as required.