Credit: The Punch
Continuing its anti-corruption war, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Tribunal (ICPC) has commenced a clampdown on very wealthy civil servants.
The agency has seized 24 properties and several cars from three civil servants, The Punch reports.
According a document obtained from the office of the chairman of the ICPC, Ekpo Nta, the commission seized the property from the three officials of the ministry of Niger Delta. It also stated that the property was seized because they were “excessive of the emoluments of the affected officers”.
Although the status of the officials was not mentioned in the document, dated August 11, 2015, it was gathered that the officials are all principal account officers of the ministry, which has become one of the focuses of investigations by the ICPC.
The Niger Delta ministry officers listed in the document are Poloma Kabiru Nuhu, Mangset Longyl Dickson and Daniel Obah.
Commenting on the decision to seize the property, the ICPC boss said: “The commission is investigating a matter involving some staff (members) of the Niger Delta ministry, with certain movable and immovable property owned by the said staff.
“The commission is of the opinion based on the aforementioned investigation that these movable and immovable property owned by these people who are staff of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs are excessive, having regards to their present emoluments and all other relevant circumstances. The commission hereby notifies the entire public that all movable and immovable properties owned by these staff (members) and listed hereunder are seized.”
Nta said one of the officers, Nuhu, has 10 hectares of land, covered by right of occupancy at Kuje valued at N50m, and 16 plots of land, which are all covered by Certificate of Occupancy in different parts of Gwagwalada, Abuja. The same officer is said to have an uncompleted duplex in Abuja, that is worth N90m.
Another civil servant on the ICPC list, Dickson, reportedly has a plot of land at Kubwa district in Abuja valued at N7m.
The third official, Obah, is said to own different plots of land in Abuja and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and a four-bedroom duplex at Karsana South district, Abuja, valued at N60m. He is also said to have a plot of land at Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.