Whistleblowing: ICPC Warns against Frivolous Petitions, False Information

By Praise Chinecherem

Independent Corruption Practices Commission (ICPC) has reiterated call on Nigerians to assist in its fight against corruption, reassuring of adequate protection of those with genuine information.

It however warned against giving frivolous petitions and false information as a result of attached rewards, reminding them of the consequences of such acts.

Anambra State Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Mr. Godwin Oche gave the warning on Thursday at a one-day Review meeting of Stepdown training by African Center for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in collaboration with International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC).

The training is on Strengthening Capacity of Community-based organizations on whistleblowing and whistleblower protection themed, “Sharing Impact by CBOs on the Promotion of Whistleblowing policy in Anambra State”

Oche, represented by Officer in-charge of Public Enlightenment and Education, Inalegwu Shaibu said the Commission had achieved succeses, namely recovery of cash and properties, including vehicles, farm lands buildings, schools and hotels while deploying the whistle blowing tool.

He said, “The commission had faced challenges in terms of false information which has led to prosecution of the whistle-blower.

“We’ve also offered protection to some of the whistle-blowers that have come under attack from the people and agency indicted. We encourage anonymity, from investigations to prosecution.

“Fighting corruption in a developing nation like Nigeria remains a work in progress. The ubiquitous litanies of woes of corruption on our moral, socio-economic and national development is very alarming.

“It therefore requires joint efforts of state and non-state actors to reduce corruption in Nigeria to the barest minimum and birth a country of our dream.”
Earlier, Coordinator, AFRICMIL Dr. Chido Onumah expressed worry over inability of former President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to pass the whistleblowing protection draft bill into law before expiration of its tenure.

Onumah, represented by Senior Program Officer, Ugwu Nkechi said the group had made progress by ensuring approval of the bill by the Federal Executive Council last December, stressing that it was already working with partners to ensure the enactment of the law as quickly as possible.

“As you all are aware, protection of whistleblowers is crucial to the success of whistleblowing policy implementation. Unfortunately, there’s no law yet to back the policy.

“But we’re no longer where we were when we came here for the town hall meeting and the stepdown training. We have made progress by ensuring the bill was approved by the Federal Executive Council last December.

“We are already working with partners to ensure the enactment of the law as quickly as possible.

“We’re grateful for the collaboration with Comrade Chris Azor, President, International Peace and Civil Responsibility Center (IPCRC) and Chairman, Anambra State Civil Society Network (ASCONET).”
Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the State, Sir Joseph Uchendu said the conversation around the whistleblower should comprehensively discuss how to make Nigeria work among its citizens.

“The role of the whistleblower is like that of an informant, hence the critical need for relevant stakeholders to key into the fight for the protection of whistleblowers in Nigeria,” he added.
Also speaking, Comrade Azor noted that corruption simply means misappropriation of our commonwealth, stressing it remained the rights of citizens to hold to account their leaders, who he referred as servants.

“We’re proud to note that Community Based Organizations have been monitoring projects at their localities and this steps have been yielding dividends,” he said.