SAN FRANCISCO, August 07, (THEWILL) – The two nominees to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related offences Commission (ICPC) dropped by the Presidency, Dr. Saadu Alanamu and Hajiya Maimuna Aliyu, on Monday denied the allegations of fraud levelled against them.
But in separate statements, the two nominees insisted that they were never indicted by ICPC.
Dr. Saadu Alanamu, a Former Chairman of the Governing Council of the Kwara State College of Education, said he was never indicted for any corrupt practice at any time when he served in various institutions in Kwara State.
“First, I must say that appointment into public office is a trust to serve the humanity. I would rather protect my integrity than take any offer that would rubbish the highest standard I have maintained in my public service career,” he stated.
“I was never indicted nor convicted of any offence or crime by any institution. The records of my stewardship are there in various institutions I served.
“Even though I am not a politician, I was chairman of various councils and institutions at different periods which include Kwara State Council of Supervisors for Health, Kwara State College of Education, Kwara State Scholarship Board, Kwara State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Governing Council, Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies and Governing Council, Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin.
“When I was nominated for ICPC, I was extremely happy to have the privilege to serve humanity with utmost level of commitment, sincerity and honesty. Nevertheless, with the turn of event on the allegations, I strongly believe the government will conduct thorough investigation over the allegations.”
When asked if he was ever invited by Anti-corruption agencies, Alanamu said “sometimes in 2015 members of the board and management of Kwara State Polytechnic where I served as the Chairman Governing Council for less than a year were invited over an allegation that they favoured contractors from Kwara State for TETFund projects rather than other bidders from outside the state.
“I as the Chairman as well as the Rector, Bursar and the Director of Works were invited to defend the approval which we insisted that we considered realistic and reasonable quotations rather than the lowest bidding that might not be realizable.
“When the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) intervened on the contract issue, the lowest bidder from outside the state was giving all the seven contracts.
“Since then, more than two years ago now, I didn’t hear anything from the BPP or the ICPC over the incident.”
On her part, Maimuna Aliyu said the allegations against her were cooked up because she stepped on powerful toes while serving in Aso Savings and Loans Plc insisting that two businessmen have sworn to get rid of her for exposing the fraud perpetrated in Aso Savings and Loans Plc.
“On the 21st June, 2017, I had written a petition against Aso Savings and Loans Plc, where I catalogued the several infractions, frauds and corruption of Mr. Tunde Ayeni and his protégé; Mr. Adekunle Adedigba over funds that were misappropriated,” she stated
“I duly submitted copies of the said petition in June 2017 to Directorate of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF).
“It is interesting to note that two clear months after I submitted the petition with weighty allegations against the Aso Savings and the persons earlier mentioned, nothing has been done about it, but they were quick to go to press that I was being investigated to deny me of the appointment earlier made by the Acting President.
“No matter how long it takes; the real truth about the plundering and looting of Aso Savings and Loans Plc will be made open irrespective of the threat to my life and my family. I have been harassed and openly embarrassed as a result of this but I am resolute that the truth will vindicate me.”
