The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated an investigation into a petition it received from the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee, Yusuf Gagdi, concerning allegations of job racketeering. This development was announced in a statement issued by the ICPC spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, on Friday. The commission also confirmed receiving a petition from Premium Times, an online newspaper, regarding the same matter.
The statement reads, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has commenced investigation into petitions received from Premium Times and Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of Job Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, over bribery allegations against the probe panel.”
Previously, the House of Representatives had issued a warrant for the arrest of a former desk officer at the Federal Character Commission, Haruna Kolo, in connection with the investigation.
Additionally, during a panel hearing, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities denied allegations of bribing members of the House Committee investigating job racketeering in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. The Vice-Chancellors clarified that they had transferred funds into a specific account to obtain foreign currencies required for an international workshop in the United Kingdom.
Prof. Ishaya Tanko, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, speaking on behalf of the vice-chancellors, stated that the funds were intended to cover foreign exchange expenses for attending an international workshop in Birmingham, the United Kingdom, starting from September 5. He emphasized that the vice-chancellors were not involved in bribery and were eager for the investigative committee to conclude its work so that employment challenges in Nigerian universities could be addressed.