ICPC probes Reps committee investigating MDAs over job racketeering

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said it had begun an investigation into the activities of the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee probing federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies for alleged job racketeering and gross mismanagement, following bribery allegations against the probe panel.

The anti-graft agency made the development known on Friday, noting that the probe followed the receipt of petitions from an online media platform (not PUNCH) and the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Investigation of Job Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Yusuf Gagdi.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has commenced investigation into petitions received from Premium Times and Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of Job Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, over bribery allegations against the probe panel,” the spokesperson for the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua wrote in an official note on WhatsApp.

The PUNCH reports that some anti-corruption advocates have called on anti-graft agencies to probe members of the ad hoc committee allegedly involved in extorting money from ministries, departments and agencies under the guise of investigating job racketeering. They made the call in separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

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Weeks ago, the committee said it received petitions against 39 MDAs over allegations of job racketeering and other infractions. The Chairman of the Committee, Gagdi, disclosed this at the resumed sitting of the investigative hearing at the National Assembly.

He said some of the MDAs include the Federal Character Commission, Office of the Head of Service, Budget Office, IPPIS and the Federal Civil Service Commission amongst others.

According to him, the Committee will in line with its mandate engage over 600 MDAs to unearth the extent of the malfeasance in the federal civil service.