The Executive Director of EOCO and her team paid a working visit to the ICPC in Abuja.

During the visit, the ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye and his Management team welcomed the delegation.

In his opening remarks, Prof Owasanoye said ICPC is a self-accounting entity. Through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, it can send inspectors at any time to inspect books. He also said the Agency has a Proceeds of Crime Department established as a result of proceeds of Crime Management Act passed in 2022 and to operationalise this, every asset has a file.

He mentioned that asset management framework revolves around physical protection of assets and that ICPC uses Government Valuer to value assets, rents or leases assets. He also noted that ICPC has Asset Disposal Guidelines to guide how they dispose of assets.

On corruption prevention, Prof. Owasanoye said they have the national values curriculum mainstreamed across all schools. He stated that ICPC rewards integrity across public services every year at a ceremony hosted by the President at the Presidential Villa.

According to him, ICPC conducts a systematic study of government agencies in areas prone to corruption and risk assessment of MMDAs and develops an integrity plan for them. He further added that ICPC issues an Ethics and Integrity Compliance Stability Scorecard after assessment, which is published. 

It also undertakes the Nigeria Corruption Index of the country’s experience of corruption in their daily lives. Prof Bolaji in his concluding remarks said the affinity between Ghana and Nigeria makes the visit extremely important.

Speaking at the programme, the Executive Director started her opening remarks by thanking GIZ for sponsoring the trip. She continued by adding that, the purpose of the visit was to build on the existing relationship the two countries have enjoyed over the years.

She added that EOCO is always looking forward to engaging in mutually beneficial relationships that would improve the productivity and outcome of investigations and prosecution of serious economic crimes. 

She then concluded that both countries must continue to work together to help reduce the prevalence of these crimes in the sub-region.

To conclude the working visit, the Executive Director and her team were given a tour of the ICPC facility.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah