A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta state, has upheld the powers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and prosecute officials of Delta state government who allegedly engaged in corrupt acts.
This was contained in a statement through the Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare, in Lagos. The Attorney-General of the state had filed a suit challenging the powers of the commission under Sections 6 and 28 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act) to investigate state finances and invite Delta state officials for interviews in the course of investigations.
He stated that the plaintiff in the Suit FHC/CS/165/2023 also contended that by Sections 120, 121, 122, 123, & 125 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), it is only the Delta state House of Assembly and the Auditor General of Delta state that have the powers to look into the state’s finances and demand for documents.
