Whistleblower policy: ICPC witch-hunts no one – Chairman Owasanoye

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said the anti-graft agency does not witch-hunt any Nigerian.

This was disclosed by Bolaji Owasanoye SAN, Chairman of ICPC, during a whistleblowing and whistleblower protection town-hall meeting, organised by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, (AFRICMIL) in Calabar.

Represented by Mr Kalu Ugbo, Acting Resident Commissioner of the commission in Cross River, Owasanoye said the agency was highly independent and carried out its responsibilities according to the law.

He, however, noted that sometimes, the agency was challenged because the whistleblower policy was not yet a law but just a policy, even though it had aspects that dealt with the protection of whistleblowers.

“The whistleblower policy is yet to be a law in Nigeria, but it has aspects that cover the protection of a whistleblower because it is a risky undertaking that can put someone’s life or family at stake.

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“Another challenge for ICPC is that the act that established the commission only empowers it to investigate and prosecute wrong-doings when there is a petition, or someone blows the whistle.

“We are trying to amend the act so that when ICPC sees a wrong-doing, it can go against the perpetrator, rather than wait until petitions are forwarded,” he said.