The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has defended the appointment of Mrs Hannatu Mohammed as one of the Commission’s Board members, stating that she is eminently qualified to be a member.
In a statement released by the Commission on Monday, the Commission while reacting to public opinion on social media and the traditional news media questioning the person and character of Mrs Hannatu Mohammed on the Board of ICPC, said it finds it necessary to clear the air on the matter and lay it to rest.
The Commission in the statement, highlighted the requirement and qualities of persons who can be on the board of the ICPC, stating the following:
“The law establishing ICPC, the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, provides for the composition of the Commission at Section 3 (3) to wit: “The Commission shall consist of a chairman and twelve (12) other members, two of whom shall come from each of the six geo-political zones;
a) a retired Police Officer not below the rank of Commissioner of Police;
b) a legal practitioner with at least 10 years post-call experience;
c) a retired Judge of a superior court of record;
d) a retired Public Servant not below the rank of a Director;
e) a woman;
f) a youth not being less than 21 or more than 30 years of age at the time of his or her appointment; and
g) a chartered accountant.
Mrs. Hannatu Mohammed is 27 years old and represents the youths on the present ICPC Board.
It is important to note that her appointment is not the first for the Commission using these statutory parameters. The pioneer ICPC Board which was appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in September 2000 had Mr. Gabriel Tanimu Aduda as a representative of the youths in line with the aforestated provisions of the law.
Besides not requiring any other qualification than her age, Mrs. Mohammed is a Pharmacy graduate of the reputable first-generation university, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Her experience spans teaching internship in a school, industrial attachment, mandatory one-year service with NYSC and subsequent stint in a corporate environment. It is also to her credit that prior to her appointment, she had served selflessly as a volunteer at the Orphans and Women Support Foundation (OWSF). Therefore it is evident from the foregoing that Mrs. Hannatu Mohammed is eminently qualified to be appointed a member of the ICPC Board to represent Nigerian youths going by and beyond the provisions of the law.” the statement ends.