ICPC to politicians: Don’t send us frivolous petitions — we won’t be used unfairly

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned politicians to desist from sending frivolous petitions against political opponents.

According to a statement by Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson, Bolaji Owasanoye, ICPC chairman, said this on Friday while hosting the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the commission’s headquarters.

According to the statement, Owasanoye said some politicians use anti-corruption agencies in order to outdo their opponents.

“Usually, when the season for competition comes, there is a spike in politically-motivated petitions for wild-goose chases. Some are brazen enough to tell you that we should make sure to stop Mr A from contesting and they will bring a petition forward. That is not our job, and we will not get involved in those things. We pack those type of petitions aside basically,” he said.

“Even if there is implication of merit within the complaint, we will say ‘go and compete first’.

“We are not going to be the one to be used to give you the fair or unfair advantage. When the competition is over, we will decide on the merit or otherwise of what you have brought forward.”

He said the ICPC, however, has an existing understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on how address genuine electoral petitions when the need arises.

“We do have an understanding with INEC that in cases where contestants challenge each other in court and the decision says somebody forged a certificate for example, INEC will send those things to us, and we are prosecuting a few of them at the moment.

“Those are ways we will add value without compromising ourselves or exposing our officers to the compromise and desperation of politicians during the contest.”