May 31, (THEWILL) – The Senate, on Tuesday, passed an amendment to the Act establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The amendment followed the consideration of a report presented at plenary by the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, chaired by Suleiman Kwari (APC-Kaduna).
Key among the provisions is the amendment to section 25 of the Act, which proposes two-year imprisonment with no option of fine on anyone whose petitions to the Commission are found to be false or misleading.
In the principal act, the offence of false petition attracts a fine of N100,000 only.
The amendment in section (25) (1) says Any person, who makes or causes any other person to make to an officer of the Commission, any statement, which to the knowledge of the person making the statement, or causing the statement to be made is false, or intended to mislead, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years.
In his remarks, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, commended the lawmakers for “the painstaking manner the report was considered. It is our hope that it will make ICPC better.”
