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Group Faults ICPC Report on Alamieyeseigha
By Godwin Haruna, 12.12.2004
Opu Balyesa, an Ijaw pressure group, has dismissed recent reports that the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has been indicted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for paying N1.7 billion to ghost companies. The group, in a statement by its Director of Research and Strategy, Dr. Ayebayai Amakiri, described the report as untrue and a calculated attempt to mislead the public about proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja where the governor was granted leave to seek the release of the report by the ICPC. According to the group, “the correct version of the story is that in the wake of the last elections, the ICPC had written to the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais to investigate the governor because its team had established a case of corruption against the governor". “Sadly, the report of the ICPC team that formed the basis of the decision to prosecute Alamieyeseigha was turned down even after a valid request had been made for it by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Talford Ongolo”, he said. The non-release of the report, Amakiri pointed out, explains why the Bayelsa State Government had to institute an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja for an order compelling the ICPC to release the report. He noted that the ICPC, has a duty to assist the state in eliminating corruption and that the decision of the Abuja court that the state be given a copy of the report is victory for Balyesa state. Amakiri quoted the Justice commissioner, as saying that the state government is “keenly interested in the outcome of the investigation and have assisted ICPC in every possible way including the provision of all necessary financial records of the state. “We also ensured the attendance of all the relevant top government functionaries for interrogation by the ICPC. The hope of the state was that at the end of the exercise, it will use the report to assist the state”, he said. The group described the decision of the court as victory for the state in its drive to eliminate corruption if any exists.
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