The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) has disclosed that it has received 263 petitions from government departments, institutions and individuals on different corruption cases out of which 159 cases have been investigated and concluded while 104 cases are under investigation.
The agency added that seven corruption cases have been forwarded to the State’s Attorney-General’s office for prosecution while another 14 cases of fraud have been taken to Court by the State’s Ministry of Justice.
The agency, through the State’s Ministry of Justice has also secured the sentencing of a senior civil servant in the State who was jailed over corruption charges.
In a statement made available on Friday to mark the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day which is marked globally every 9th of December, the Chairman of OYACA, Hon. Justice Eni Itan (Rtd.), said that the agency has been working together with the people of Oyo State in all spheres to end corruption and its devastating impacts on the society as intended by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Eni Esan hinted that the agency has been able to achieve a lot in the discharge of its mandate to fight corruption and curb corrupt practices in accordance with the law that established OYACA.
“Oyo State Anti- Corruption Agency (OYACA) joins the entire world to mark the International Anti–Corruption day today to renew its commitment of working together with the good people of Oyo State and the whole world to end corruption and its devastating impacts on the society.
“International Anti- Corruption Day (IACD) is observed on December 9th each year to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2003, a significant milestone in the global fight against corruption.
“IACD is an annual event that emphasises the need to tackle corruption and its far reaching consequences. Corruption undermines trust in institutions, hampers economic development and erodes social justice. This day seeks to mobilise individuals, governments and organisations to take a stand against corruption, as everyone has a role to play in uniting the world against corruption.
“It is no longer news that the Government of Oyo State led by His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde FNSE, has zero tolerance for corruption. This informed his decision to establish Oyo State Anti- Corruption Agency (OYACA).
Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) was inaugurated by His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde FNSE, on 22nd December and commenced full operations in April, 2021.
He added: “The Agency has been able to achieve a lot in the discharge of its mandate to fight corruption and curb corrupt practices in accordance with the law that established it. It has received from Government Departments, institutions and individuals over 263 petitions on different cases of corruption and corrupt practices.
“159 cases have been thoroughly investigated and concluded. Investigations are ongoing on 104 cases and 7 cases have been forwarded to Hon. Attorney General for Prosecution while 14 persons are already in court. It is expedient to mention that a senior civil servant in the state was recently convicted by a court of law and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for corruption.”
In its efforts to effect a corrupt-free society, OYACA claimed it has recovered huge amounts of money from corrupt contractors engaged by government departments and failed to perform the contracts as expected, while assisting individuals to recover huge amounts of money from some fraudulent civil servants.
“OYACA has been able to recover huge amounts of money from corrupt contractors engaged by Government Departments but who failed to perform the contracts as expected.
“OYACA has also assisted individuals to recover huge amounts of money from some fraudulent civil servants.
“The Agency has also investigated some Government officials on allegations of diversion of Government funds into personal accounts. Such officers at the moment, are standing trial in court. Also, in several MDAS, persons who had pending applications for approvals for over five years had such approvals speedily granted owing to the intervention of OYACA.”
The Chairman further stated that to sensitize the general public about the agency’s activities, advocacy programmes have been organized for local government Chairmen, officers of the local government councils, residents, traditional rulers, State’s civil servants as well as staff and students of State-owned tertiary institutions.
“As part of the core mandate of the Agency to educate and enlighten the public, it has carried out many sensitization and advocacy programmes for different groups of people for instance; Chairmen, officers and residents of Local Government Areas in the State. Traditional Rulers, Civil Servants and officers of the Judiciary, Staff and Students of Tertiary Institutions have all been sensitized.”
She said the agency is currently running radio and television jingles on various media stations to sensitise the general public on the ill effects of corruption and the role everyone can play to fight same while it has opened social media handles such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X formerly known as Twitter to enable members of the public to view its activities.
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