ICPC to probe MDAs on abuse of COVID-19 intervention funds
By Paul Michael
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has vowed to investigate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for infractions on COVID-19 intervention funds and other procurement abuses.
Chairman of ICPC, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN) said this while speaking at the 2022 African Union Anti-Corruption Day, saying that the commission had observed discrepancies and infractions in the procurement and payments made by some Ministries and Agencies after the disbursement of the COVID-19 fund.
“The Commission had observed discrepancies and infractions in the procurement and payments made by some Ministries and Agencies after the released and appropriate disbursement of COVID-19 funds.
“The Commission observed that in some instances, the distribution of relief materials or palliatives was chaotic, disorderly, and uncoordinated.
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“Some implicated MDAs denied the monitoring team access to their records thereby impeding the successful inquiry into their activities. These MDAs are flagged and will be investigated for breaches and infractions of the law and COVID-19 intervention funds guidelines and other procurement abuses.
“Hoarding and diversion of materials were also common warranting the raids by people in some situations, facilities or locations warehousing palliatives. Some of such also created widespread violence,” the ICPC boss said.
While citing media reports, Owasanoye lamented selective distribution, favouritism, nepotism, and other biases in the allocation and distribution of palliatives as well as the ‘high-jacking’ of palliatives by political actors, their proxies, cronies, and affiliates.
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