CRIME
ICPC Boss Tasks Experts, Stakeholders on Security Votes
BY Gom Mirian, Ahuja
The Chairman independent corrupt practices and other related offences commissions (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has tasked experts and key stakeholders to proffer out modalities that would lift the issue of security votes in the country.
The ICPC chairman said this at the Quarterly Policy Dialogue on Accountability for Security Votes organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), the training arm of the ICPC, in Abuja on Wednesday.
security vote is a monthly allowance that is allocated to the 36 states for the sole purpose of funding security services within such states and it runs into billions of Naira based on the level of security required by the individual state.
According to Owasanoye,there should be mechanisms that would ensure that secrecy did not void accountability in the issue of security votes, saying accountability is key to diminishing corruption which is vital to national security and development.
He further noted that the Commission focuses on security votes since is an easy and attractive route for stealing public funds and a veritable avenue for abuse of public trust and escalation of poverty and underdevelopment and ironically escalation of insecurity.
“This is because the money that should ordinarily be available for social and economic development is appropriated as security votes and used discretionarily.
“The 2019 Budget as appropriately by law, 162 Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had monies appropriated as security votes. The MDAs include Boards, Committees, National Parks, among others,” He maintained.
He said that the number and categories of MDAs given security votes suggested that something was wrong with the parameters for determining the agencies entitled to security votes.
ICPC, Chike Okafor, ICPC.
He however expressed sadness over the existing lacuna in the budgeting process and lack of guiding principles on security votes, urging stakeholders to close the gaps that facilitate corruption and as much proffer ways of mitigating the menace.
Earlier in his remarks, the Provost of the academy, Prof. Sola Akinrinade, said the Policy Dialogue series was aimed to bring topical Anti-Corruption issues to the fore of national discourse.
Prof. Akinrinade stated that the abuse of security votes constituted major threats to the security of the Nation.
Adding that the preventive and educational measures in the fight against corruption were crucial to achieving a corruption-free society on a long-term sustainable basis.
Also in a keynote address, the Governor of Ekiti State and chairman Nigerians Governor’s forum, His excellency Dr. Kayode Fayemi refuted that security votes is not illegal, quoting from the constitution and other relevant authorities to emphasize the fact that security votes are not only legal but have been in existence since the colonial Era.
“Governments all over the world have security votes but they may not call it the same name as ours because, for obvious reasons, government business may not necessarily be all in the public glare
A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old travel agent, Adebayo Oyeronke, to four years imprisonment over a N6.2 million visa fraud.
Oyeronke had pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and theft.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, held that Oyeronke was guilty of defrauding Rita Francis and four others of the sum of N6.
2 million.Emmanuel who did not give the convict an option of fine, ordered him to pay N2 million each as compensation to the victims.
The magistrate also ordered him to undertake an affidavit of good conduct, pledging never to engage in any criminal or corrupt activities again.
Earlier, the prosecution Insp.
Chidi Leo told the court that the convict committed the offences between December 2024 and April 2025 at Barnawa Kaduna.Leo said that the defendant collected N6.2 million from the complainants; Rita Francis, Mohammed Sadiq, Christian Baba, Williams Abiodun and Nathan Victor, with a promise to get them Polish visa.
He said after the convict collected the money, he absconded to an unknown destination until he was arrested on May 15.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.
30 p. m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 31-year-old woman, Opeyemi Bakare, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an iPhone valued at N500,000.
Bakare, of undisclosed address, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and stealing .
The prosecutor, Insp Iyabo Oladoyin, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired and committed the offences on May 2 at 3.30 p.m. in the Dugbe area of Ibadan.
According to Oladoyin, the defendant stole an iPhone 12 valued at N505,000, belonging to the complainant, Mr Oluseyi Oba.
The prosecutor said the phone was stolen in Dugbe Market and was tracked to the defendant.
She said the offences contravened Sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs T.G. Daodu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu thereafter adjourned the case until July 8 for hearing. (NAN)
A 40 – year old prostitute, Adeosun Adepeju was on Tuesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stabbing her colleague in the stomach during work period.
Adepeju of undisclosed address was standing trial on a count charge bordering on assault.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Cpl.
Helen Ojo told the court that Adepeju on May 21, at about 12:30 a.m., at Ring road area, Ibadan, stabbed her colleague, Stella Mago with scissors in her stomach.Ojo said that the stabbing caused the complainant bodily harm.
She added that the offence contravened Section 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. M. Olagbenro admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Olagbenro adjourned the matter until May 30, for hearing. (NAN)
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