A bill for a law to establish the Kogi State Anti-corruption agency has passed through second reading in the State House of Assembly.
Presenting the lead debate on Tuesday, the lawmaker representing Okene Town, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazak noted that the bill when passed into law will assist the government in combating corruption in the State.
Hon Abdulrazak, who is also the Majority Leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly averred that, the bill is not being sponsored to compete with the federal anti graft Agency but rather compliment their efforts in fighting corruption in the Country.
In his contribution, Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani noted that the bill was coming at the right time. He said “In the year 2015, our leader who was at the front of winning the election died during the process.
“That situation in Kogi State put the whole nation into confusion since such incidents was not captured in our constitution. When it happened, that was why there was a review in our constitution. That is the more reason I said this is coming at the right time. Before an outsider will come to look at our book, an agency will be on ground to say this has happened and this has not happened”.
Hon. Enefola Major of Igalamela/Odolu constituency opined that corruption has been a bane in Nigeria society hence the need to give the bill an express passage “Corruption is endemic in our society. Sadly, many Nigerians are corrupt. It is high time we all hold the bull by the horn. Am appealing to our colleagues to join there hands to support this bill”.
The members representing Yagba West State Constituency, Hon. Idowu Ibikunle, Ajaokuta, Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin and Okene South, Hon. Yusuf Zakari Eneve all threw their weight in the speedy passage of the bill.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, said the bill was very important, stressing that the agency will not be established to antagonize the federal anti graft Agency.
”With this type of body in place, it will equally assist the House of Assembly on its oversight function. Of course, for those of us who happen to be privilege in position of approval, we will be very careful. If this body is established, it is not to antagonize any federal body but to collaborate with them and make our society a better place.
“Maybe some of the cases the federal government are losing as a result of none investigation or not having enough evidence, the State Government will be able to provide them with more, so that perpetuators will be brought to book” he stated.
The bill has been committed to the House Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters.