The Senate has passed an amendment to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) Act with stiffer punishment for false petitioners.
This was sequel to the consideration of a report on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by the committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes, chaired by Suleiman Abdu Kwari (APC Kaduna North).
According to the report, in the principal Act, the offence of false petition attracts a fine of N100,000.
The amendment to Section 25 of the Act, now provides two-year imprisonment with no option of fine on anyone whose petitions to the commission are found to be false or intended to mislead.
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The amendment in section (25) (1) says any person who makes or causes any other person to make to an officer of the commission…any statement which to the knowledge of the person making the statement, or causing the statement to be made is false, or intended to mislead shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years.
The Senate had in the past, planned to streamline the operations of the ICPC with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, so as to make it more proactive.
