The Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission announced that it has started an inquiry into a petition about employment racketeering that it had been given by Yusuf Gagdi, the chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee.
The anti-corruption commission made this disclosure in a statement on Friday that was signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua. It also mentioned that it had received a petition from the online daily Premium Times.
The statement stated: “The Independent Corrupt Practises 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.”
Recall that Haruna Kolo, a former desk officer at the Federal Character Commission, was the subject of an arrest order issued by the House of Representatives.
The House Committee looking into employment racketeering in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies was earlier accused of paying money to bribe members of the committee.
The Vice Chancellors stated that they paid money into a certain account in order to obtain some foreign currencies necessary for their travel at a panel hearing on Friday.
When the vice chancellors appeared before the committee, Prof. Ishaya Tanko, the vice chancellor of the University of Jos, said on their behalf that the funds sent were intended for foreign exchange so that they could attend an international workshop that had been organised in Birmingham, United Kingdom, starting on Tuesday, September 5.
He stated, “During our most recent meeting, we asked two weeks since some of the colleges had not yet provided us with all of the necessary documentation.
“However, we read the really upsetting media report, and I can confirm that the vice chancellors were not involved. The vice chancellors haven’t given anyone a bribe.
“What I remembered was that there was a workshop for vice-chancellors the following day, and because there is another international workshop planned for the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, I remembered that several people were looking for estacode in the form of foreign exchange that will allow them to travel.”
According to Tanko, “We are looking forward to this committee concluding its work so that the challenges relating to employment in Nigerian universities are addressed so that we can continue to provide the quality manpower we need for the development of this country.”
