Alleged N4.9bn Scam: Osinbajo Appoints Prof Owasanoye New ICPC Chair
.Former Chair, Ekpo Nta now at Salaries Commission
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the immediate appointment of Professor Bolaji Owasanoye as the new Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He replaces Mr Ekpo Una Nta, sworn in as a Board member/Acting Chairman, ICPC in November 2011 and later confirmed substantive Chairman on October 17, 2012
The development is coming less than 24 hours after Forefront broke the news of ICPC’s complicity in an alleged N4.9 billion fraud involving the Jos-based Covenant Fadama Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd.
By this presidential directive, Nta, appointed during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, now has a new duty post at the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) as full-time Commissioner
A statement by Director of Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi in Abuja on Tuesday, said Prof Owasanoye takes over the affairs at ICPC with a renewable tenure of five years.
According to the statement, “The appointment of the chairman is for five years, while the tenure for all the members is four years”, adding, “Also, these appointments are subject to senate confirmation.”
Until his appointment, Prof Owasanoye was a member/Executive Secretary of the Professor Itse Sagay (SAN)-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC).
Also appointed as members of the Commission are Grace Chinda, Okolo Titus, Obiora Igwedebia, and Olubukola Balogun, retired Justice Adamu Bello, retired Air-force officer, Sam Ewang, and Hannatu Mohammed. Others include Abdullahi Saidu, Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Daud, Khamis Mailantarki and Maimuna Aliyu with Musa Abubakar to serve as Secretary of the Commission.
Meanwhile, the Acting President has also named Special assistant to the president on Prosecution, Okoi Obona-Obla as Chairman of the committee to recover public property. Akingbolahan Adeniran will serve as the Committee’s secretary.
The new ICPC boss, Owasanoye is renowned for his expertise in International Economic Law; Human Development and Social Justice Activism. A Professor of Law with over 15 years experience, Owasanoye has been at several the apex legal academic institutions in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) where he served as two-time Director of Research. He consults for various national and international bodies, including Federal and state Ministries and agencies, such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), UNICEF, ILO/IPEC, DFID, and the World Bank among others.
He has proficiency in teaching Legal Aspects of External Debt Management; Corporate Law; Legislative Drafting; Human Rights; and Strategic Governance among others. He has provided academic service to several tertiary institutions including the Lagos State University 1986 1990; Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (1991 2015; Professorial Research Associate, University of London School of Oriental and African Studies 2011 to 2013; and University of Pretoria (Visiting Professor), 2015.
