The residents of Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abuja have petitioned the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), Musa Adamu Aliyu, over alleged improper conduct of the commission’s acting Director of Operations, Shehu Yahaya.
In the petition signed by the counsel to Muhammadu Buhari Estate Association, ‘Deji Ajare, a Principal Counsel at Sterling Law Centre, the residents said the ICPC Acting Director deployed the commission’s personnel to pursue personal interests at the expense of the ICPC’s mandate and reputation.
The residents said Muhammadu Buhari Estate was besieged by men and officers of the ICPC on Thursday, 19th September 2024, acting at the behest of the ICPC Acting Director of Operations.
They noted that ICPC Acting Director of Operations meddled into a civil matter between the Estate Association and two individuals in the estate concerning electricity levy for the maintenance of electricity facility in the estate.
The Residents Association said the ICPC Acting Director of Operations also sent a letter of invitation to a resident of the Muhammadu Buhari Estate to report to the ICPC office for issues or matter not clearly stated.
This action has caused significant apprehension among the residents, who are concerned that the Commission is being used as a tool of harassment to intimidate them into settling a personal vendetta.
According to the petition “The officers sought entrance into the estate to reconnect electricity to two residents who had been disconnected from power due to their persistent failure to contribute to the maintenance of electricity facilities in the Estate, leaving the other residents to bear the financial cost for about 10 months now.
“The cost of these maintenance as factored into service fees and levied on all residents, has met with refusal to pay and despite repeated demands from the Estate Association, the two individuals in question refused to pay, leading to their disconnection.”
The Association said the dispute surrounding service charges in the Estate is clearly a civil matter between individuals and the Estate Association, and does not in any way fall within the purview of the ICPC’s mandate as outlined in the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
“Our Clients are shocked that an officer of the stature of the Acting Director of Operations would descend into such private affairs and direct the use of the Commission’s resources in matters that are, by all standards, purely civil and personal.
“Abuse of the Commission’s powers to settle personal scores for individuals with whom he is suspected to have a personal relationship is not only inappropriate but also raises serious questions about the integrity and ethics of his office. It is incomprehensible and indeed worrisome that an esteemed officer of the ICPC would allow personal interests to interfere with his professional duties, thereby tarnishing the reputation of the Commission.
The residents of the Estate said that they have utmost respect for the ICPC and its mandate-in fighting corruption but they are deeply disturbed by the overreach and misuse of powers being demonstrated by the Acting Director of Operations in this instance.
They appealed to ICPC Chairman to call the Acting Director of Operations to order, reminding him of the core mandate of the Commission as outlined in the ICPC Act, and caution him against involving the Commission in civil disputes that are beyond the scope of its jurisdiction.
They also demanded investigation into the actions of the Acting Director in using the resources of the ICPC for personal interests and charge the Commission to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the acting Director.
The residents called on ICPC Chairman to esure that the Commission’s good name and reputation are upheld by restraining officers from using their positions to pursue private, non-criminal matters.
“We believe in the important work of the ICPC and hope that this petition will help preserve the integrity of the institution, allowing it to focus on its primary functions as mandated by law.We trust that this petition will be treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, and we look forward to your kind intervention in this matter”, the residents pleaded with ICPC Chairman
