'ICPC witch-hunts no one' – Chairman

<h2>The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) has said that the anti-graft agency does not witch-hunt any Nigerian.</h2>, <p>Owasanoye, Acting Resident Commissioner of the commission in Cross River noted that the agency was highly independent and carried out its responsibilities according to the law.</p>, <span>L-R: Dr. Chido Onumah, Coordinator AFRICMIL and Mr Kalu Ugbo, Acting Resident Commissioner ICPC in Cross River, during a town hall meeting on the protection of whistleblowers in Nigeria (Credit: NAN)</span>, <p>This was disclosed by Bolaji Owasanoye SAN, Chairman of ICPC, during a Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection town-hall meeting, organised by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, (AFRICMIL) in Calabar.</p>, <p>Represented by Mr Kalu Ugbo, Acting Resident Commissioner of the commission in Cross River, Owasanoye said the agency was highly independent and carried out its responsibilities according to the law.</p>, <p>He, however, noted that sometimes, the agency was challenged because the whistleblower policy was not yet a law but just a policy even though it had aspects that dealt with the protection of whistleblowers.</p>, <p>“The whistleblower policy is yet to be a law in Nigeria but it has aspects that covers the protection of a whistleblower because it is a risky undertaking that can put someone’s life or family at stake.</p>, <p>“Another challenge for ICPC is that the act that established the commission only empowers it to investigate and prosecute wrong-doings when there is a petition or someone blows the whistle.</p>, <p>“We are trying to amend the act so that when ICPC sees a wrong-doing, it can go against the perpetrator, rather than wait until petitions are forwarded,” he said.</p>, <p>Similarly, Mr Bawa Saidu, Commander, Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noted that 90 per cent of their prosecution and conviction was due to whistleblowing.</p>, <p>Saidu, who said whistle blowing was very essen