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ICPC Takes Anti-Corruption Campaign To Imo Ministry, Urges Public Officers To Choose Integrity

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ICPC

ICPC Takes Anti-Corruption Campaign To Imo Ministry, Urges Public Officers To Choose Integrity

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has intensified its preventive anti-corruption drive with a sensitisation programme for the Imo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, urging public officers to embrace integrity even when unobserved.
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The one-day event, recently held at the Ministry’s conference hall, formed part of the Commission’s strategic stakeholder engagement aimed at embedding ethical conduct across public institutions and strengthening grassroots governance.

Welcoming the ICPC delegation, the Hon Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Professor Ruby Emele, hailed the initiative as timely and commended the Commission’s sustained efforts to promote transparency and accountability in public service.

She emphasised that continuous anti-corruption education remained essential for reinforcing the ethical capacity of public officers and expressed confidence that the programme would enhance participants’ understanding of the law while deepening their commitment to principled governance.

The centerpiece of the event was a lecture titled “Corruption in Local Government Administration: The Cost of Silence, the Power of Integrity,” delivered by Mrs. Chinwe Egbeocha, Deputy Director of the ICPC Imo State Office.

Describing corruption as a formidable obstacle to national development, Mrs. Chinwe warned that silence in the face of malfeasance emboldens impunity, while integrity constitutes the bedrock of accountable governance.

Providing an overview of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, Mrs. Chinwe outlined the Commission’s three interconnected mandates of enforcement, prevention, and public enlightenment.

The Commission, she noted, has scaled up its preventive mandate through initiatives including Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units, System Studies and Reviews, Corruption Risk Assessments, and the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative.

Drawing on the World Bank’s definition of corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, Mrs. Egbeocha identified greed, poverty, distorted societal values, weak enforcement, poor leadership, and lack of political will as key drivers of the phenomenon. She also introduced the Fraud Triangle, explaining that pressure, opportunity, and rationalisation often trigger individuals to engage in corrupt practices, and urged public officers to cultivate the moral fortitude to resist external pressures and reject attempts to rationalise unethical conduct.

The Deputy Director further illuminated the profound consequences of corruption, including poor infrastructure, declining productivity, unemployment, weak educational outcomes, insecurity, and eroded public confidence in government institutions.

She also detailed various offences under the ICPC Act, including gratification, bribery, abuse of office, and inflation of contract prices, which attract prison terms of up to ten years upon conviction.

In a particularly engaging segment, Mrs. Egbeocha clarified that gratification extends beyond cash to include gifts, favours, and promises intended to influence public officers, prompting robust audience participation. When participants questioned whether unsolicited tokens of appreciation constituted corruption, she maintained that the law remained explicit and urged public officers to exercise utmost caution regarding gifts that might compromise their impartiality. She also highlighted the Commission’s whistleblower protection provisions under Section 64 of the Act and encouraged participants to report suspected corruption through dedicated channels.

Addressing corruption risks specific to local government administration, Mrs. Egbeocha identified bribery, nepotism, procurement fraud, ghost worker syndrome, and diversion of public funds as practices undermining grassroots development. She observed that bribery often manifests through deliberate delays in processing legitimate services, compelling citizens to offer inducements for entitlements. Challenging participants to become integrity ambassadors, she urged them to ensure that official decisions withstand public scrutiny, declare conflicts of interest, report wrongdoing promptly, and lead by example.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Egbeocha offered poignant reflections, stating that “corruption is not only found in high places; it can be found in a drawer and can also be found in silence.” She reminded participants that “the tragedy of corruption is not merely that money disappears, but that trust disappears too,” and concluded that the true fight against corruption is won when individuals choose integrity even when no one is watching.

ICPC

ICPC

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Isabel Kelechi A., expressed profound appreciation on behalf of the Commissioner, describing the engagement as highly educative and affirming that the knowledge acquired would positively influence staff conduct.

The sensitisation programme underscores the ICPC’s unwavering commitment to preventing corruption through strategic stakeholder enlightenment, ensuring that ethical leadership becomes the cornerstone of effective public service delivery and sustainable national development.
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University of Uyo Seeks Anti-Corruption Alliance With ICPC

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UniUyo

University of Uyo Seeks Anti-Corruption Alliance With ICPC

In a decisive move to fortify ethical governance within academic circles, the management of the University of Uyo paid a high-level courtesy visit to the Akwa Ibom State Office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), signaling a renewed institutional resolve to combat corruption from the ground up.
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Leading the delegation, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Christopher N. Ekong, accompanied by key members of his team, formally called on the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) for Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, Mr. Baba Alaro Shuaib to support the University Anti-Corruption efforts.

During the engagement, Professor Ekong articulated the University’s unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of transparency, probity, and accountability across all levels of the institution.

He underscored the visit as a strategic step to deepen collaborative ties with the Commission, while specifically soliciting technical support for comprehensive sensitisation programmes aimed at both students and staff.

“We are here to build a robust partnership that will insulate our community from the scourge of corrupt practices. The University of Uyo stands ready to be a beacon of integrity, and we believe the ICPC is an indispensable ally in that mission,” Professor Ekong stated.

In his response, Mr. Shuaib lauded the Vice Chancellor’s proactive leadership, describing tertiary institutions as pivotal gatekeepers in the national anti-graft crusade.

He assured the delegation of the Commission’s full backing, emphasising that educational environments are fertile grounds for cultivating long-term ethical reform.

Also in attendance were the Commission’s Second-in-Command, Mr. Ebenezer Olamiku, alongside other senior ICPC officers. The University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Iniobong Uko, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude for the warm reception and the Commission’s evident enthusiasm for the proposed partnership.

UniUyo

UniUyo

The meeting, which comprised twelve participants in total, concluded with both parties agreeing to map out a structured framework for joint anti-corruption initiatives, including workshops, policy reviews, and student outreach programmes.

This developing alliance marks a significant milestone in the University of Uyo’s administrative ethos, reinforcing its dedication to producing not only academically excellent graduates but also morally upright citizens.
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IGP Disu Holds Strategic Meeting With Benue Stakeholders, Pledges Intensified Security

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Benue

IGP Disu Holds Strategic Meeting With Benue Stakeholders, Pledges Intensified Security

As part of his efforts to strengthen regional stability, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Riliwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, paid an official working visit to the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, culminating in a high-level strategic engagement at the State Government Banquet Hall in Makurdi.
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The meeting brought together key security stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths and women representatives, and members of various Farmers Associations, to address the state’s most pressing security challenges, with a primary focus on resolving the longstanding farmer-herder conflict.

Addressing the assembly, IGP Disu expressed grave concern over the widespread proliferation of sophisticated firearms, identifying it as the underlying driver of recurring violence across local communities. He commended Governor Alia and community leadership for their proactive support, emphasizing that local cooperation remains indispensable to achieving lasting peace. Urging residents, particularly the youths, to report suspicious activities promptly, the IGP promised robust, intelligence-driven policing backed by absolute confidentiality for all informants. He further called for seamless collaboration among conventional security agencies and local security outfits, reiterating that maintaining law and order is a collective responsibility.

In response, Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed deep gratitude to IGP Disu for conducting a direct operational assessment of the state, describing the visit as a clear demonstration of the Nigeria Police Force’s dedication under his leadership. Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies, Governor Alia stressed that his overarching goal is to guarantee a safe environment where every citizen can live, work, and farm without fear. He further commended the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus C. Nwadiogbu, for his decisive efforts to tackle crime and foster stronger police-community relations.

Benue

Benue

The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its dedication to safeguarding communities across the nation while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and public trust.

CSP ANIETIE OKOKON EDEM INIEDU
Force Public Relations Officer,
Force Headquarters, Abuja.
24th July, 2026.

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NAF Reinforce Joint Warfighting Capability With Special Forces Training For Nigerian Army Personnel

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Nigerian Army

NAF Reinforce Joint Warfighting Capability With Special Forces Training For Nigerian Army Personnel

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA), Bauchi, has commenced the screening of prospective participants for Special Forces training drawn from the Nigerian Army.
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The exercise comprises comprehensive medical examinations and rigorous physical fitness assessments aimed at evaluating the personnel’s medical suitability, physical endurance and overall readiness for the demanding training programme. The screening marks the first critical step in preparing highly capable operators for complex and high-risk operational environments.

The exercise underscores the NAF’s unwavering commitment to reinforcing joint warfighting capability through professional military training and sustained inter-service collaboration.
By providing specialised training opportunities for personnel of sister services, the NAF continues to enhance interoperability, deepen mutual understanding and build a more integrated and mission-ready Armed Forces capable of delivering coordinated effects across the joint battlespace. The initiative reflects the Service’s strategic focus on strengthening operational readiness in support of national security objectives.

Speaking during the exercise, the Commandant of RTCA Bauchi, Squadron Leader Lawrence Akpan, described the screening as a critical phase in producing competent and mission-ready Special Forces operators.

Nigerian Army

Nigerian Army

He noted that Special Forces personnel play a pivotal role in counter-terrorism and other high-risk operations, where specialised skills in special reconnaissance, direct action, precision strikes and operating in austere environments are essential to mission success. He added that the programme exemplifies the synergy and jointness that underpin the Armed Forces of Nigeria, reflecting the NAF’s enduring commitment to training excellence and stronger inter-service cooperation.

The initiative reaffirms the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to building a highly professional, interoperable and mission-ready Armed Forces capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians.
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