The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has received 40 official vehicles recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC) from retired directors in the ministry.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Water Resources, the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Rabi Jimeta, noted that recovering 40 vehicles at a time, when the ministry was lacking operational vehicles, was highly appreciated.
Jimeta, who commended the ICPC, pledged to ensure that the vehicles were properly put to good use and warned civil servants against corruption.
Eight Toyota Prado, two Toyota RAV4, one Audi Q7, one Ford Explorer, one Land Rover, one Nissan Patrol; three Toyota Avensis; 14 Hilux Pick-up; seven Toyota Corolla; one Toyota Camry and one Audi A6.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, represented by a commissioner, Bako Abdullahi, had stated that the formality should not just be for handing over of recovered vehicles from one anti-corruption agency to another public institution.
He said it should be a moment for solemn reflection on our avowed commitment to public service and the thought processes of the public servant going into retirement.
“It is not so much that official vehicles of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources were dishonestly made away with by retiring public servants.
“However, what is more significant is the need to ask some questions and consistently interrogate how 40 government vehicles were removed without authorisation?”
The ICPC Chairman, however, said that the retired public servants would be prosecuted in accordance with relevant laws, saying those who saw the vehicles been carted away and said nothing were part of the conspiracy.
The recovery was done by a crack team of the ICPC, led by the Director of Assets Tracing, Mr Frank Nanakumo. (NAN)