The leading civil society organisation in Nigeria, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to extend its corruption prosecutions to the leadership of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). This follows the recent filing of charges against contractors allegedly involved in unexecuted projects paid for by TETFund.
In a petition addressed to ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, and signed by HEDA Chairman Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the anti-corruption organization commended the Commission for filing charges against Paul Chukwuma and Fides Et Ratio Academy Ltd on September 10, 2024, as well as Adedeji Ladipo and Pole Global Marketing Limited on September 20, 2024. These charges stemmed from allegations of corruption and money laundering tied to unexecuted contracts.
However, HEDA expressed concern that the leadership of TETFund, which authorized these contracts in violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) regulations, has yet to be held accountable. The civil society organization argued that the alleged offenses of the contractors were made possible through actions initiated by the hierarchy of TETFund, making them co-conspirators in the corruption scheme.
“Paying for unexecuted contracts in violation of extant laws not only robs Nigeria but also deprives Nigerians of essential infrastructure,” the petition stated. HEDA urged the ICPC to demonstrate impartiality and ensure that both public officials and private institutions involved in corrupt practices are prosecuted diligently and without bias.
The petition further emphasized that prosecuting all parties involved is necessary to reinforce public trust in anti-corruption efforts and to serve as a deterrent to others. HEDA’s demand underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption, where accountability extends beyond contractors to include the government officials who facilitate such malpractices.
HEDA’s call for action comes after its initial petition dated April 29, 2024, and a follow-up request for information on November 4, 2024, seeking updates on the investigation. The organization remains steadfast in its mission to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice in public institutions.