The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has denied media reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) carted away incriminating files relating to either President Bola Tinubu and his close aides or former President Muhammadu Buhari and his aides, from its facility and that of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The report particularly accused Nigeria’s secret police of making moves to stifle investigation of politically exposed persons by ICPC and other agencies saddled with investigation corruption in high places.
And like the ICPC, a source at the DSS said not activity or raid was carried out against any government agency saying the secret police is not in the business of interfering with another governor agencies to the extent of interrupting any investigation.
The source described the report as an imagination of the writer and no element of truth in it.
The ICPC on its part took to its verified social media handles on Saturday, specifically refuted a news report titled, ‘Secret Police, DSS Carts Away Files Implicating President Tinubu, Close Aides From ICPC, CCB’.
In a statement issued via the verified accounts, ICPC described the news report as fake and irresponsible.
ICPC made separate references to former President Muhammadu Buhari and aides and also incumbent President Tinubu and aides, with uncertainty as to who among the two leaders and their aides were at the centre of any investigation.
“The attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been drawn to a spurious news report by online medium, Saharareporters titled ‘Secret Police, DSS Carts Away Files Implicating President Buhari, close Aides from ICPC, CCB’.
“The Commission hereby refute the report by Saharareporters and state unequivocally that there were no files implicating President Tinubu or close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states and therefore the alleged carting away of such imaginary files is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public.
“While the Commission does not dispute the role of the media to inform the public, it is however deeply disturbed by irresponsible practice and non-adherence to the tenets of the journalism profession by some media outlets.
“For the umpteenth time, the Commission wishes to urge media organisations not to allow the use of their medium to propagate lies and unfounded reports by subversive agents. The Commission’s channels of communications remain open for clarification and confirmation.”
However, a security source also confirmed that the DSS never embarked on such mission.
