NDLEA To Partner ICPC For Greater Drug Law Enforcement
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has proposed to partner with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to rid the nation of illicit drugs.
The request for synergy was proposed by the NDLEA Commandant of Kano State Division, Mr. Abubakar Idris Ahmed during his recent courtesy visit to ICPC Kano State Office, stressing that he needed to work in partnership and in synergy with ICPC to defeat criminality.
“No single agency can defeat criminality alone in Nigeria, but the value and performance of the NDLEA, combined with that of ICPC would be greater than only the effort of NDLEA fighting the menace of illicit drugs in Nigeria”.
Mr. Ahmed further stated that “behind every crime, the motivating factor is money. This is where the two agencies should collaborate. It is critical that we establish a relationship so that we can achieve greater success in drug law enforcement. The majority of crimes committed in the country today are committed while under the influence of drugs”.
On his part, the ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) of Kano State, Mr. Ibrahim Garba posited that there was a relationship between illicit funds and illicit drugs trafficking, thus the need for NDLEA and ICPC to move quickly to check illicit financial flows and drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Garba expressed his delight with the request for synergy and added that the Commission had always welcomed inter-agency collaboration with other law enforcement entities in its crusade against corruption because it recognized that the war on corruption and crime could only be won through a collaborative approach.
The highlight of the event was the recognition of the ICPC RACC as an Ambassador for the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) by the NDLEA Commandant Kano, on behalf of the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd).
Proceeds of Crime Act will boost ICPC’s Anti-Corruption Fight – ANEEJ
The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has stated that the recently passed Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (POCA) will boost the work of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in curbing corruption in Nigeria.
Speaking during a capacity building for Civil Society Organisations and Media on Anti-Corruption Issues and Social Inclusiveness Reform Initiatives in Nigeria, ANEEJ’s Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor stated that the new Act would serve as a good working instrument for ICPC to solve corruption problems in Nigeria.
“As you know, the Proceeds of Crime Bill has just been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari which gives a working instrument for the anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, ICPC and CCB to work collaboratively and solve corruption problems in Nigeria.
Since POCA has been passed and accented to, there are others on the queue such as the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Witness Protection Bill. Rev. Ugolor, who also identified the lack of synergy amongst various CSOs and government agencies as the major factor limiting effective anti-corruption advocacy, harped on the need for CSOs and journalists to have a vast understanding of anti-corruption and social inclusive reforms issues. He added, “Once they have the right knowledge and skills to engage government collaboratively based on existing data, they will be able to carry out evidence-based advocacy for reforms.
Then, they can also influence the development of policies, the passage of laws on anti-corruption and social inclusive reforms issues. ”In her remark, the representative of ICPC, Mrs, Anike Adeshina explained how the Commission “is mindful of the need to continually strengthen its existing synergy with ANEEJ and other civil society organizations with related missions”.
“Part of the duties of ICPC as stated in Section 6(e-f) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 is “to educate the public and against bribery, corruption and related offences” and “to enlist and foster public support in combating corruption”.
“In pursuance of this mandate, the Commission has continued to engage and encourage the constructive push by NGOs like ANEEJ and others of like passion in its preventive, enlightenment, enforcement mandate and other lawful activities on and around tackling corrupt practices and other related offences.”
She further stated that the Commission recognized the critical role that CSOs and the media have to play in deploying guided interventions for good governance, amplifying voices against corruption, and securing active participation in promoting socio-economic development.
