ICPC Reaffirmed Commitment To partnering With Ministry Of Power To Promote Integrity

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Federal Ministry of Power to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity in the nation’s power sector.
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This assurance was given by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Okwudili Oparaodu, DSSRS, when he received the Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe. and top executives of the Ministry on a courtesy and familiarisation visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking during the visit, the Minister described the ICPC as one of the key institutions of government with which the Ministry must build a strong working relationship to enhance accountability in the power sector.

According to him, the Ministry requires the Commission’s guidance, support and partnership in addressing challenges confronting the sector, particularly as it strives to improve electricity generation and service delivery.

He disclosed that about 30 per cent of the challenges facing the power sector stem from vandalism, noting that the Ministry has several cases requiring the Commission’s guidance in navigating the appropriate anti-corruption and enforcement processes.

The Minister further stated that the Ministry has recorded improvements in electricity generation, with power output now exceeding 5,000 megawatts, adding that sustained collaboration with institutions such as the ICPC would help consolidate the gains already achieved.

“We need people like you with the requisite experience to support us, and we look forward to forging a sustainable and long-term relationship with the Commission,” he said.

Responding, the Secretary to the Commission congratulated the Minister on his appointment and appreciated him and his delegation for identifying the ICPC as a strategic partner in the quest to reposition the power sector.

Mr. Oparaodu acknowledged the persistent electricity challenges facing the country, expressing optimism that improved power supply would stimulate industrial growth, create more employment opportunities and boost national economic development.

He explained that the ICPC’s tripartite mandate of enforcement, prevention and public education places the Commission in a strategic position to collaborate with the Ministry of Power across all three areas.

ICPC, Ministry of Power

He assured the delegation that, through its enforcement mandate, the Commission would support the Ministry in ensuring that contractors and other stakeholders handling government resources are held accountable and prevented from defrauding the government.

The meeting ended with both institutions expressing their commitment to strengthening collaboration towards entrenching transparency, safeguarding public resources and improving service delivery in Nigeria’s power sector.
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Police Rescued Two Kidnap Victims In Katsina

The police command in Katsina has foiled separate kidnapping and cattle rustling attempts in Kankia and Charanchi council areas, rescuing two kidnapped women unharmed.
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Its spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said the first incident occurred on Saturday, at about 11:45 a.m., when armed bandits riding three motorcycles attacked Jauga settlement in Sabon Gida, Kankia LGA, and abducted two women.

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said the divisional police officer in Kankia immediately mobilised operatives to the scene after receiving a distress call. He said the operatives engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to flee into a nearby bush with suspected gunshot wounds and abandoning the victims.

According to him, the rescued victims were identified as 20-year-old Rukayya Yahaya and 22-year-old Sahura Abdulhadi, both residents of the community.

The police spokesman also said that on Monday, the command foiled an attempted cattle-rustling attack in Majen Waya, Charanchi LGA. He explained that the incident occurred at about 10:00 a.m. when suspected armed bandits invaded the village with the intention of rustling cattle.

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said the DPO in Charanchi promptly deployed an armoured personnel carrier patrol team, which confronted the hoodlums in a gun duel.

Police

“The bandits were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the operatives and fled into the bush with suspected bullet wounds. No life was lost, and no cattle were rustled during the operation. Normalcy has been restored to the area, while aggressive tactical patrols are ongoing,” he said.

He added that efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
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ADC Calls For Criminal Investigation Of Nafiu Bala After INEC Disowns His Claims

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Nafiu Bala Gombe following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) dismissal of his claim that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates for the 2027 general election.
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In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said that INEC’s disclaimer that the document that Nafiu Bala Gombe circulated was false and forged, amounted to a criminal attempt to undermine the integrity of INEC. The party urged the commission to refer the matter to law enforcement agencies, warning that allowing such claims to go unpunished could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr. Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the Commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false.

The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors. It is about the clear and unmistakeable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public by making false claims and fabricating and sharing forged documents that directly impugn the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral management body.

To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter. As INEC has now confirmed, Nafiu Bala Gombe’s actions raise serious questions that deserve the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies.

This is because such claims are capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process, creating unnecessary political tension and casting doubt on the security and credibility of INEC’s systems.

As a responsible party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

This is not about the ADC alone. It is about protecting the integrity of public institutions. It is about ensuring that no one believes they can make false claims that involve critical national institutions without consequences. More importantly, it is about preserving public confidence in the processes that underpin our democracy.
INEC must see Nafiu Bala Gombe’s action for what it is: a direct challenge to its institutional integrity.

How this matter is handled will send an important signal about the seriousness with which our institutions defend their credibility and the rule of law. If individuals can falsely claim access to the Commission’s secured systems, generate widespread public anxiety and simply move on when the claim is disproved, a dangerous precedent would have been established. Others may be tempted to deploy similar falsehoods in the future to create confusion, inflame political passions or undermine confidence in the electoral process. The public is watching.

ADC

The ADC remains committed to democratic politics, respect for institutions and the peaceful conduct of political competition. We trust that the relevant authorities will act decisively to ensure that deliberate falsehoods of this nature do not become an accepted feature of our democratic life.

Signed:

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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