Technology, Tool For Fighting IFFs – ICPC

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has said the in use of technology is crucial the fight against corruption and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs).
Owasanoye stated this recently at the presentation of demo hacking solutions by seven innovators at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
“Technology is crucial to eliciting, analysing and preserving evidence for prosecution.
“Public Sector corruption in revenue and expenses parts of government remains a present threat. Government is agonising over serious shortfalls in revenue projections and the consequences of resorting to borrowing to meet gaps.
“Recently, ICPC profiled some Federal MDAs in one state that had been diverting FG’s share of Internally Generated Revenues (IGR)”, he said.
He added that they have trained ICPC staff in digital documents analysis, handwriting analysis, polygraphic technology, and sundry skills.
The  ICPC boss stated that deployment of technology through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMS) and Treasury Single Account (TSA) have contributed greatly to reducing corruption in Nigeria.
Other areas are the Open Treasury Portal, establishment of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and the private sector initiated Bank Verification Number (BVN).
Owasanoye, therefore, called for more collaboration by law enforcement agencies in the deployment of technology to reduce  opportunities for money laundering.
“Appropriate technology deployment will give law enforcement agencies, administrators and regulators of the process adequate leverage to know what school feeding funds were being used.
“Introduction of technology in Nigeria today makes this very possible. Such platforms will help nip anomalies in the bud and save the government huge sums of money and also prevent abuse, corruption and money laundering,” he said.
He  also assured that the anti-corruption agency, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Ford Foundation would further work on the demo hacking solutions presented by the young innovators.