Sacking of ICPC boss, abuse of power – Group

A socio-cultural group, the Nupe Foundation, has faulted the Federal Government for removing the acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Uriah Angulu, describing the action as gross abuse of power.

The foundation said the manner in which Angulu was booted out of office was a desecration of the integrity of the commission and inconsistent with the laws establishing it.

The statement which was signed by the National Chairman of the group, Mr. Y. Sani, and made available to our correspondent in Minna argued that the development had negatively affected the rebranding project of the government.

He said Angulu had demonstrated his desire to fight corruption, pointing out that under his oversight, ICPC had dragged the Minister of State for Health, Mr. Suleiman Bello, to court for misappropriation of N11.2m.

He also reminded the government that Angulu was investigating allegations of N6bn fraud in the judiciary involving the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, when he was sacked.

“The unlawful removal of the acting chairman is at variance with the law establishing ICPC and against the convention and practice of statutory commissions to appoint, among its commissioners to act, irrespective of their background, pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.

“We found it particularly offensive to the sensibility of Nigerians and the international community that government is taking this action at a period when corruption cases involving high ranking government officials in both the executive and the judiciary are being probed.

“(Mr. Uriah) Angulu has not breached any law of the land or committed any offence, to deserve such a punitive action at a point of his retirement, having served the country meritoriously.”

The foundation called on the National Assembly to quickly reinstate Angulu on the grounds that the action of the executive was unconstitutional, especially considering that he had discharged his responsibilities without fear or favour.