Posted by By GODWIN TSA, Abuja on
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) said it has arrested top government officials (names withheld) who served in the 11-month administration of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala as governor of Oyo State over alleged multi-billion naira contract fraud.
•Probes his 11-month rule in Oyo, arrests ex-aides
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) said it has arrested top government officials (names withheld) who served in the 11-month administration of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala as governor of Oyo State over alleged multi-billion naira contract fraud.
Also in the anti-graft agency's net are top officials of some publishing houses (names withheld) who allegedly connived with the suspects in the contract scam.
Confirming the arrest, the Resident Consultant of the Commission, Mr. Folu Olamiti, disclosed that the ICPC operatives left for the state last Sunday and would remain there "until they have reasonably concluded their assignment."
According to the ICPC, the suspects, who included commissioners, who served in the Alao-Akala administration, serving permanent secretaries, special advisers and other top government officials in three major ministries as well as the indicted publishers, are to be moved to Abuja.
Mr. Olamiti said that the suspects would be arraigned in court before the end of this month, adding that prima facie case had been established against many of them.
It was gathered that their arrest followed investigations conducted by the ICPC investigators, who were directed to investigate series of petitions bordering on abuse of office and inflation of contracts in the purchase of books and other contract deals, during Alao-Akala's stint as governor.
Said Olamiti: "Our operatives are now in Oyo State with a mandate to investigate all contract deals of Alao-Akala's 11 months administration as governor of Oyo State. Specifically, the ICPC investigators are to investigate series of petitions bordering on abuse of office and inflation of contracts in the purchase of books and other contract deals.
"The investigators are also to move to all publishing companies mentioned in the petition and thoroughly question the top officials on the part they played in the alleged contract scam. Both the government officials and the publishers are to be brought to Abuja after this preliminary investigation to further shed light on how billions of naira was spent in 11 months.
"The ICPC received these petitions recently and it has been studying them to ensure that they fall in line with the ICPC Act 2000. The ICPC searchlight will cover the publishers, commissioners, permanent secretaries and special advisers," he said.