The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has vowed to investigate some Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government for infractions on COVID-19 intervention funds and other procurement abuses.
Speaking at the 2022 African Union Anti-Corruption Day, the Chairman of the ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, stated that the Commission had observed discrepancies and infractions in the procurement and payments made by some ministries and agencies after the disbursement of the COVID-19 fund.
He said, “The Commission, he added, also observed that in some instances the distribution of relief materials or palliatives was chaotic, disorderly and uncoordinated.
“The Commission had observed discrepancies and infractions in the procurement and payments made by some ministries and agencies after the released and appropriate disbursement of COVID-19 funds.
Some implicated MDAs refused the monitoring team access to their records thereby impeding the successful inquiry into their activities. These MDAs are flagged and will be investigated for breaches and infractions of the law and COVID-19 intervention funds guidelines and other procurement abuses.
“Hoarding and diversion of materials were also common warranting the raids by people in some situations, facilities or locations warehousing palliatives. Some of such also created widespread violence.”
Owasanoye citing media reports also lamented selective distribution, favouritism, nepotism and other biases in the allocation and distribution of palliatives as well as the highjacking of palliatives by political actors, their proxies, cronies, and affiliates.