A departmental head and two investigative staff of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), have run into trouble for allegedly collecting N120 million bribe from an accused staff of the Federal Ministry of Works. They allegedly being investigated by the anti-graft agency.
Sources at the commission said the staff, including a head of department in the commission allegedly collected the money from the accused after which they returned a-no-case submission against the staff.
Investigation also revealed that a staff of the Federal Ministry of Works petitioned the commission, alleging that some staff of the ministry had embezzled about N1 billion from the ministry’s capital vote and requested that the anti-corruption agency investigate the officers involved.
Following the petition, the commission assigned the case to two of its investigators to follow up on the case and ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations contained in the petition.
Rather than conscientiously investigate the allegations contained in the petition, the investigators allegedly struck a deal with the accused and were paid N30 million each, while the head of a department allegedly received N60 million to return a positive verdict in favour of the suspect.
However, following clearing of the accused by ICPC officials, the petitioner who is also a staff of the Ministry of Works, petitioned the Presidency, alleging complicity of ICPC officials in the clearing of the suspect.