Conduct Tribunal requests Bureau to refer cases involving high ranking public servants.

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar has appealed to the Code of Conduct Bureau to refer cases involving high ranking public officers who are alleged to have engaged in corrupt practices to the tribunal.

Danladi Umar made the appeal recently at the 2013 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Code of Conduct Bureau tagged: “Transformation Rule of CCB’’ which held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja during his presentation of a goodwill message.

“I would passionately appeal to the Code of Conduct Bureau to refer cases involving high ranking public officers at the federal level who engage in corrupt practices to the tribunal. I recall that between 2005 and 2007, high ranking public officers including serving and former Governors, sitting Vice Presidents, Retired Inspectors – General of Police as well as  Chairmen of parastatals were brought before the tribunal for adjudication,’’ he noted.

The Tribunal Chairman further observed that the cases served to expose the activities of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal to the Nigerian public and well explains the efforts of the two agencies to fight corruption to a standstill. He added that the two bodies were formed under the same Act which is contained in the 1999 constitution and are empowered to collectively fight corruption in all ramifications as regards public officers who are entrusted with managing public resources in the country. Umar maintained that the two bodies operate separately in synergy to ensure probity and accountability; adding that they seek to ensure decency amongst public officers.

While presenting his speech, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Sam Saba   outlined the bureau’s major achievements within the period under review, saying it has stepped up efforts to ensure public officers’ conformity to the uppermost standards of public morality and accountability. He also mentioned that the Bureau aims to create the enabling environment for government in the federal, state and local levels to realise set goals.

According to Sam Saba, the bureau has made significant strides towards the realisation of its vision, mission and mandate. New grounds, he averred have been broken up to justify the confidence reposed in the Conduct Bureau by the President. He continued that the Conduct Bureau in collaboration with some international development partners have initiated an online Assets Declaration Platform which agrees with the 21st century information technology approach. Adding, the platform will enable public officers to complete their Assets Declaration Forms online from the comfort of their offices and homes.

While declaring the briefing open lately, the Minister of Information & Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku represented by the Director of the National Press Centre, Oluseye Abegunde noted that the theme of the briefing is in consonance with the policy thrust of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Information Minister remarked that if allowed to strive, corruption would deny Nigerian citizens the basic dividends of governance, thereby hampering development. She thanked the bureau for collaborating with the Ministry of Information to organise the event.