LG autonomy: ICPC threatens action against officials defying Supreme Court judgment

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, has warned that the commission would take action against any official or individual who defies the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.

The Supreme Court, in a July 11 judgment, affirmed the financial autonomy of the Local Governments in Nigeria.

The court also rejected the stance of state governments that sought to dissolve democratically elected local government councils.

In a statement on Friday by the ICPC’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, Aliyu stated that local governments must be politically independent, adding that any state official who violates the Supreme Court decision would be held accountable for gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Aliyu spoke at the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa.

Aliyu said, “What we have been focusing on is ensuring that critical stakeholders in this country are held accountable and working to reduce corruption. Next month, in September, we will hold a summit with these stakeholders to discuss collaborative efforts.

“As I have stated before, local governments must be politically independent, and any state-level official who violates this Supreme Court decision will be held accountable for gross misconduct and abuse of office.

“The ICPC is prepared to take action against anyone who goes against the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy”.

During the event, Aliyu also highlighted the transnational nature of corruption, stressing the need for collective action by nations and expressed confidence in the objectives and guiding principles of NACIWA, which signal a strong commitment to tackling corruption among member states.

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