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The Independent
Corrupt Practices Commission announced Thursday that its operatives
have arrested the Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun
State, Tele Ogunjobi, on allegations of fraud that is rocking the
council.

The commission said
the council boss, who is currently held in Abuja, allegedly took loans
totalling N45 million from Skye Bank on behalf of the council and
diverted same to personal use.

The council
chairman, according to the ICPC consultant on media and public affairs,
Folu Olamiti, also stand accused of using the loan to pay Christmas and
Sallah bonuses to fictitious personalities in the council.

In the course of
investigation, several officials of the council, namely Folarin E. O.
(Director Finance & Supplies), Ayo Olawole (Director, General
Service and Administration), O. A. Osiyale (Former Head of Works) and
K. O. Popoola (Present Head of Works) were arrested and interrogated.

Though the Chairman
is still being held in the commission’s custody, the other council
officials have been released on bail while investigation into the
matter is progressing.

The Commission also declared yesterday that its pursuit against corruption will be independent of government’s political will.

The ICPC and its
sister commission, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
have been accused of slowing the momentum of the nation’s
anti-corruption campaign in the past three years.

Collaboration with grassroots

But Emmanuel
Ayoola, who heads the ICPC, said on Thursday that the commission, in
the face of dwindling funding, will collaborate with civil society to
raise its campaign against corruption with or without the political
will of the government.

“The fight against
corruption can only be durable only if funding comes away from the
political sector and the government base,” he told dozens of
non-governmental organisations at a meeting yesterday. “We are
determined that whether there is political will or not, the fight
against corruption must continue.”

The NGOs, under the
National Anti-Corruption Coalition, have agreed to collaborate with the
ICPC in the corruption war. The cooperation, the ICPC says, is to reach
the grassroots and help focus attention on areas where the commission
cannot reach.

“There is no way
the ICPC can spread around the 36 states of the 774 local governments
across the country,” Mr. Ayoola told the groups. “You can assist the
commission with project monitoring, membership drive and capacity
building.”