The Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde had indicated that the law that established the State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) was in consistency with the federal laws that gave birth to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses (ICPC) and other federal agencies established to fight graft.
The governor stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the ‘Organizational Integrity Management Training Programme for the OYACA board members, management and staff at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan.
The training was as a result of collaboration between Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses (ICPC).
Makinde, who was represented at the event by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, said no provision in the OYACA laws would go against the dictates of the federal laws, as the case between the Ondo State and the Attorney-General of the Federation was the watershed for the creation of the State anti-corruption laws.
He hinted that OYACA became imperative because many cases were brought in the open when the present administration came on board and personnel of the State were required to make court appearances at Abuja and other parts of the country, which he said was expensive and the fight had to be domesticated because corruption has become endemic in the society.
Gov. Makinde therefore called for the passage of the whistle-blower laws by the House of Assembly, which he said would make investigation and prosecution of cases of corruption speedy and seamless.
“The constitutional competence of the State to fight corruption rested squarely in the provision of the law and there exists no provision in OYACA laws that tie the hands of any federal anti-corruption agency.
“OYACA law is consistent with the fundamental objectives of the federal laws, which are instruments created to fight graft and block loopholes where public resources are stolen or mismanaged.
“We appreciate the ICPC for this collaboration to stem the tide of graft in our society and cause a lot of loss to the government and the people of the State, there is also the urgent need to pass the whistle-blower bill into law to aid the speed and smoothness of investigation and prosecution .”
