General
Supreme Court, UI, OAU, Others Fail ICPC Ethics Integrity Test
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed that the Supreme Court of Nigeria and 14 other bodies failed to meet the requirements of its 2024 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).
This announcement highlights the failure of several key institutions to meet the required ethical standards and guidelines set by the ICPC for the year.
The chairman of the ICPC, Mr Musa Aliyu, while unveiling the EICS on Thursday in Abuja, said 330 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were assessed in the outgoing year, but none achieved full compliance with the EICS.
The chairman, represented by the ICPC Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr Demola Bakare, emphasised that the 15 non-compliant MDAs had completely failed to conduct any system studies or submit necessary financial and audit reports.
Mr Aliyu said among the non-compliant bodies were the University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Legal Aid Council, Abuja, and Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Other entities on the list, he said included the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Abuja; Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists; Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria; the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Ningi, among others.
The ICPC head warned that the ICPC would take appropriate actions, including enforcement measures, against these MDAs to ensure they complied with government directives.
In spite of the non-compliance of some agencies, the Chairman commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for emerging as the top performer in the EICS with a score of 89.75 per cent.
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) came second with 89.33 per cent, followed by Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) with 88.73 per cent.
The assessment covered key indicators, including Management Culture and Structure (MCS), Governance and Executive Management, and Financial Management Systems (FMS).
It also examined Finance, Revenue, and Audit Processes, as well as Administrative Systems (AS), which included policies, ethics education, and whistle-blowing mechanisms.
The EICS serves as a preventive tool to assess and improve MDAs’ compliance with ethical standards, policies, and anti-corruption measures.
He said that the scorecard aimed to identify organisational gaps, provide actionable insights, advise the government on policy development, and foster self-evaluation within MDAs.
Mr Aliyu further revealed that between December 2023 and December 2024, the ICPC tracked 1,500 projects across 22 states valued at N610 billion.
“During this period, the commission recovered N346 million in cash, assets worth N400 million, and helped the government save N30 billion.
“The tool covered 323 responsive MDAs, with 15 categorised as non-responsive and high-risk for corruption,” he said, noting that no MDA achieved full compliance in 2024.
He attributed these results to the absence of whistle-blower policies, strategic plans, and effective stock verification units, adding that 29.55 per cent of MDAs achieved substantial compliance, 51.62 per cent partial compliance, 15.91 per cent poor compliance, and 2.92 per cent were non-compliant.
The chairman said ICPC would continue recognising MDAs with substantial compliance and deploying tools to promote integrity and accountability.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Onamusi Onadeko, has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N50,000.
The former lawmaker, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, was sentenced by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
He was found guilty on count 11 and convicted for making inconsistent statements but discharged and acquitted on counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Mr Onadeko’s journey to the court started in 2017, when he was charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for his alleged involvement in the award and execution of a N68.7 million contract.
The politician, according to a statement from the ICPC, was accused of using his private companies, Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited, to execute several constituency projects while working as a Senior Legislative Aide to late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019.
The commission, had in the course of the eight years trial told the court that several contracts like buying of ambulance vehicles, supply of hospital equipment and drugs for Primary Health Centres, as well as construction of classrooms for some selected schools in six communities of Ogun East Senatorial District, were awarded to both Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines, where the convict doubles as a Managing Director and nominal Director, respectively, an action that violates Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
ICPC also accused Mr Onadeko of making an inconsistent statement that contradicted the one previously made to the Commissioner for Oaths, where he stated that he is a Director of Haines and Baines Limited in an affidavit dated June 30, 20216, but subsequently wrote another statement while under investigation on May 5, 2017, that he is not a shareholder or Director of Haines and Baines Limited.
This action violates Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act and, upon conviction, is liable to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
However, Mr Onadeko, through his counsel, Mr Wahab Olatoyebi, argued in the course of the trial that his client was not a public officer as his appointment at that material time was on a short-term basis and non-pensionable, hence he, (Onadeko) did not fall within the category of those that could be tried under Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 which criminalize and punish abuse of office by public officers.
But this argument was rejected by Justice Oji, who stressed that based on the defendant’s letter of appointment as well as the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan, legislative aides are public officers and therefore could be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of students and teachers from Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The governor formally inaugurated the commission at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said that although the successful rescue of the victims brought relief to the state, it did not provide complete closure.
He explained that the decision to set up an independent commission was not intended to undermine the efforts of security agencies but to ensure that every question surrounding the incident is thoroughly addressed and lessons are learnt to prevent a recurrence.
He charged members of the commission to conduct a thorough, impartial, and evidence-based investigation, assuring them of the state government’s full support. He also called on individuals and relevant institutions to cooperate fully with the panel.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, its chairman, Professor Mojeed Owoade, pledged that members would carry out the assignment with integrity, professionalism, and fairness. He added that the panel would seek an extension if necessary to complete its work.
Governor Makinde gave the commission four weeks to submit its report.
Earlier this month, the pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, eight of the kidnappers had been arrested, but the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 23 sentenced three suspects in the abduction to life imprisonment.
According to the court, the sentencing of Mr Abdulrazak Umar, known under the alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Mr Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Mr Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, will start from the date of their arrest.
Before their sentencing by Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to sentence them on liberal terms, adding that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two Chinese, Mr Zhang Hong Lin and Mr Gao Pei Hai, have been convicted and sentenced by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and the illegal mining of solid minerals.
They were both found guilty on all five counts levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced each to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N50 million fine covering all five counts.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the mineral resources recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession of mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.
“That you, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (currently at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired among yourselves, with the intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of revenue accruing therefrom, and without the permission of the appropriate authority, engaged in the exportation of mica products, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing mineral resources out of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and punishable under Section 8 of the same Act,” one of the charges read.
The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, with the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, calling the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.
After presenting the evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with the charges.
