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Afric TV24 - News Update
Officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) have swooped on council chairmen in Katsina State and as scrutinising the account books of the state’s 34 local government areas.
Afric TV24 - News Update
Officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) have swooped on council chairmen in Katsina State and as scrutinising the account books of the state’s 34 local government areas.
Our correspondent gathered the ICPC staffers arrived at the state on Wednesday evening, and reportedly held meetings with local government chairmen which lasted till 11 pm.
Although none of the council officials was ready to disclose what transpired at the meeting for fear of reprimand from senior officers in the state, sources said the council chairmen were thoroughly grilled by the ICPC operatives.
It was gathered that the visit of the ICPC followed a petition alleging misapplication of council funds by a yet-to-be-identified persons.
According to our source, issues raised in the petition included allegations that the council chairmen were given certain amounts of money as monthly allocation but were allegedly asked to pay large chunks of them to an unidentified government official.
Other issues that reportedly prompted the visit of ICPC officials to the state included allegations that most contracts were awarded by the ministry of local government and cheiftaincy affairs instead of each council area.
It was further gathered that the ICPC officials would also investigate the alleged non-release of training funds to staff members by the state local government service commission.
Sources disclosed to our correspondent that some oficials of the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs were also grilled by the ICPC officials.
At the time of filling this report, a credible source confirmed to our correspondent that the ICPC officials were busy going through account books at both the ministry of local government and the local government service commission offices.
Attempts to confirm the visit from both council chairmen and officials of the minsitry were fruitless as neither responded to calls and text message sent to their phone.
When contacted over the matter, the ICPC’s resident consultant, media and events, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed the development, saying that the move was meant to take proactive action against corruption by government officials, a part of the mandate of the ICPC.
