The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act has been amended by the Senate to accommodate two years imprisonment without option of fine to any individual who writes false petition or gives false information to officials of the commission.
Also read; Obi’s counsel tenders Tinubu’s drug-related document before Tribunal, calls first witness
The ICPC amendment act report was presented to the plenary on Tuesday, by the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes chaired by Kwari Abdu (Kaduna North).
The committee in its report proposed two years imprisonment with the option of N100,000 fine as punishment for anybody making false allegation against any individual.
During the debate on the proposal, Adamu Ailero (Kebbi Central) opposed the recommendation of the Senate Anti – Corruption Committee on the ground that the punishment was too lenient and proposed instead, that the option of a N100,000 fine should be removed from the punishment recommended for making false allegations against any individual.
“Punishment of 100,000 for making false allegations against public officers is too small. Many people are suffering as a result of that. Even we senators are still suffering from that. The section should be substituted with five years imprisonment without option of fine.”
Many Senators echoed that the punishment for making false allegations through petitions or other means should be between five to ten years imprisonment without option of fine.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan in his response, said it was better to leave the punishment without option of fine in order to protect innocent people from being victimized.
He argued that if there is no option of fine, “those who want to commit the offence will have to think twice.”
The ICPC amendment Act to award tow years imprisonment for making false allegations against any individual was therefore passed.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
