Over 400 corruption cases pending in courts, says ICPC

CHAIRMAN of Independent Corrupt Practices andother Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. NtaEkpo, has said that more than 400corruption-related cases are pending in courts.
He blamed inability of anti-corruption agencies in the country to successfully carryout their functions on inadequate budgetaryprovisions.
Ekpo, who made the revelation yesterday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Anti- Corruption and Financial Crimes headed by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North), noted that while 90 per cent of budgeted funds is spent yearly on prosecution, only 10 per cent is expended on prevention.
According to Ekpo, the existing structure is unproductive and not in tandem with the recommendations of the United Nations (UN). He said ordinarily, 60 per cent of the funds ought to have been spent on prevention of economic and financial crimes, as against the current practice.
His words: “Nineteen per cent of the time, we talk about corruption. No one spends time to talk about anti-corruption.”