One of the two nominees dropped for appointment into the board of Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission, ICPC, Sa’adu Alanamu, has denied ever being indicted for corrupt practice in Kwara State.
Mr Alanamu was dropped alongside Maimuna Aliyu following revelation by International Center for Investigating Reporting, ICIR, that they were being investigated over multi-million naira corruption.
However, in a press statement on Monday, Mr. Alanamu rebutted media reports of his investigation for, among other allegations, bribery during his tenure as chairman of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
“First, I must say that appointment into public office is a trust to serve humanity. I would rather protect my integrity than take any offer that would rubbish the highest standard I have maintained in my public service career.
“I was never indicted nor convicted of any offence or crime by any institution. The records of my stewardship are there in various institutions I served.
“Even though I am not a Politician, I was Chairman of various Councils and institutions at different periods which include Kwara State Council of Supervisors for Health; Kwara State College of Education, Kwara State Scholarship Board, Kwara State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Governing Council, Kwara State College of Arabic & Islamic Legal Studies and Governing Council, Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin.
“When I was nominated for ICPC, I was extremely happy to have the privilege to serve humanity with utmost level of commitment, sincerity and honesty.
Nevertheless, with the turn of event on the allegations, I strongly believe the government will conduct thorough
investigation over the allegations.” Mr. Alanamu said.
However, Mr. Alanamu acknowledged that two years ago, members of the board and management of Kwara State Polytechnic were invited by Anti-corruption agencies over alleged contract favouritism under his watch as Chairman Governing Council.
“Sometimes in 2015 members of the board and management of Kwara State Polytechnic where I served as Chairman Governing Council for less than a year were invited over an allegation that they favoured contractors from Kwara State for TETFund projects rather than other bidders from outside the state”.
“I as Chairman as well as Rector, Bursar and Director of Works were invited to defend the approval which we insisted we considered realistic and reasonable quotations rather than the lowest bidding that might not be realisable.
“When Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) intervened over the contract issue, the lowest bidder from outside the state was given all the seven contracts.
“Since then, more than two years ago now, I didn’t hear anything from BPP or ICPC over the incident,” he said.
PT