ICAN Seeks Death Penalty For Corrupt Officials

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria(ICAN) has called for death penalty on corrupt public officials in the country.

Making the call when the National Executive Council of the body paid a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike last week, President of the body, Prof Francis Ojaide said only stiff measures are capable of checking the alarming level of corruption in the country.

Prof . Ojaide said it was high time the country emulated the policy of some Asian countries like China and Malaysia where corruption offences attract death penalties or life imprisonment.

In the words of Prof Ojiade, “this country should seriously deal with corruption  and this includes legislation and this can be associated with death penalty”.

The ICAN President said the body does not condone any form of corrupt practice from its members as it ensures high level of ethical practise. He disclosed that the accountant body has set up a tribunal to try practitioners who fall short of  the laws regulating its activities.

With over 32 district branches spread across the country,  Prof Ojaide stated that the body is poised to improve the quality of accountancy practice and is at the verge of establishing institutes in other West African countries.

Prof Ojaide pledged the support of the institute to the economic policies of the Rivers State Government, especially in the area of internally generated revenue, stressing that the state cannot wholly rely on Federal Allocation due to the huge capital projects it is executing.

Commenting on the N250 billion bond the state is seeking from the capital market, Prof Ojaide called on the state Governor to set up a think tank on how the fund would be managed, “ICAN can make this a veritable success to realise the objective of the bond,” he assured.

He commended the State Governor for appointing one its members, Mr George Feyii as a member of his cabinet and promised ICAN’s assistance in the training and re-training of its accountants.

Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple chatting with Senator Magnus Abe when she paid a condolence visit to the Senator on the death of his mother, Mrs Margaret Abe, last Friday. Photo Chris Monyanaga