Coalition Wants ICPC to Investigate Ekiti APC Rep Candidate Over Alleged Infractions

By Jude Opara

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into alleged infractions involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Engr. Toyin Okoro Zachaius, and prosecute him if found culpable.

Addressing newsmen at the weekend in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Victor Kalu, commended the commission for inviting and interrogating the Ekiti APC House of Representatives candidate.

Kalu, however, alleged that a former senator, Adedayo Adeyeye, had mounted pressure on the commission to drop the case.

The anti-graft agency had, in response to petitions from a coalition of Ekiti APC support groups, Ekiti APC stakeholders and other civil society and pressure groups, invited Zachaius to answer questions relating to the allegations.

The coalition alleged that while serving as Special Legislative Assistant (SLA) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, at the National Assembly, Zachaius was also operating as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of a private company, ZAC-LAWREMZ NIG LTD, which it claimed was contrary to public service rules.

He was also accused of receiving salaries and allowances from the National Assembly while being a beneficial owner of the private company, as well as allegedly making false declarations under oath in his submissions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The APC candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1 was equally alleged to have used his position as a public servant to solicit and secure contracts for his private company.

Kalu said: “We demand that the ICPC remain firm, resolute and committed to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption drive by thoroughly investigating this matter and, where warranted by the evidence, prosecuting the case to its logical conclusion and making its findings public.

“It should not allow any politician, naysayer or fifth columnist to discredit the good work of the commission.

“This is a test of the integrity of the anti-corruption body. The commission should resist any pressure from Sen. Adedayo Adeyeye or any other highly placed individual and pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene and call Sen. Adeyeye to order. He should desist from any unauthorised use of the President’s name to intimidate, harass or unlawfully foist any candidate on the people of Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, as is being alleged.

“We, therefore, demand justice, equity and fairness from the anti-corruption commission saddled with this responsibility. This matter should not be swept under the carpet or disregarded.

“We are concerned about claims allegedly being made that the candidate is the President’s anointed candidate and cannot be removed by anybody, whether through the courts or otherwise. Sen. Adeyeye has also been accused of invoking the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in connection with the candidacy of Engr. Okoro Zachaius.

“What we are simply saying is that anyone found to have lied under oath, violated the ICPC Act and public service rules, or drawn salaries from two places simultaneously should not be entrusted with the responsibility of occupying a sensitive public office as a lawmaker.”