Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Tuesday passed into law the bill seeking to establish the Enugu State Anti-Corruption and Transparency Commission and for Connected Purposes, House Bill No. 5 , 2025.
The state bill passed the first reading last Tuesday but was expeditiously passed into law this Tuesday for its importance and urgency.
Leader of the House, Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu of Nkanu West state constituency, while explaining the merit of the Bill urged his colleagues to support it because it would help check corruption among government officials, corporate organisations and individuals in the state.
Aniagu pointed out that though EFCC was already fighting corruption but posited that the state owned Anti-Corruption Commission would be more committed to fighting corruption in the state.
“This Commission will investigate all financial crimes involving individuals or government agencies. Enugu state having their own Anti-Corruption agency will be a better thing for the state,” he said.
He lamented a situation where when found culpable of financial crimes, the state and the Federal Government would enjoy the proceeds of the recovered property and finances, adding that the state anti-corruption agency would be more beneficial to the state.
Lending her voice to the bill, the member representing Enugu South Rural, Princess Obiajulu Ugwu, said for the members of the commission to be transparent, there should be a periodic declaration of assets and liability of the members of the commission to ascertain when they corruptly enrich themselves.
Hon. Williams Amuka, representing Igbo-Etiti West said that the establishment of state-owned Anti-Corruption agency would go along way in checking corruption because most times it is difficult to report issues to EFCC.
“So many corrupt practices are going on in the state but they are reported to EFCC, and because they are not reported, actions are hardly taken. Establishing the agency is going to reduce any form of pilfering,” he said.