ICPC Tracks 105 Constituency Projects in Kano, Jigawa, Arraigns Works Ministry Director for Alleged Money Laundering
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has intensified its anti-corruption drive with the commencement of tracking 105 constituency projects worth over ₦36 billion in Kano and Jigawa States, alongside the arraignment of a director in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing over alleged money laundering.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kano on Monday, the ICPC Resident Commissioner for Kano and Jigawa States, Barrister Ahmad Muhammad Wada, disclosed that the commission had begun inspection of 69 projects valued at ₦17.8 billion in Kano and 36 projects worth ₦19.7 billion in Jigawa.
According to him, the exercise, which commenced on Saturday and is expected to last two weeks, is aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and preventing diversion of public funds allocated for federal lawmakers’ constituency projects.
“In sum, we are tracking a total of 105 projects valued at over ₦36 billion. We will verify whether they were executed in line with budgetary provisions, assess their quality and determine their impact on the benefiting communities,” Wada said.
He stressed that the commission would not tolerate situations where projects exist only on paper without physical execution, noting that officers would visit all project sites, whether completed or ongoing. He also urged members of the public to cooperate with the commission by reporting suspicious or abandoned projects in their communities.
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Meanwhile, in a related development, the commission arraigned a director from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs. Adiobome Blessing Lere-Adams, before Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering and corruption.
The defendant, who was docked on Monday under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/551/2025, is accused of illegally receiving and retaining funds from a subordinate between August 2022 and January 2024 in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the ICPC prosecution team led by Mrs. Onwuka Ngozi, Lere-Adams allegedly received various sums of money from one Henry David, a subordinate, which she knew or ought reasonably to have known were proceeds of unlawful acts. The commission further alleged that part of the funds was transferred to her spouse and into a bank account belonging to her son.
One of the charges stated that she took possession of and retained ₦2 million transferred into her bank account on August 18, 2022, funds said to be proceeds of corruption, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following a bail application by her counsel, Justice Liman granted her bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum. The surety is required to reside within the court’s jurisdiction, provide verifiable identification and submit three years’ tax clearance documents. The court granted a 72-hour window for the bail conditions to be met and adjourned the matter to April 20, 2026, for hearing.
Reaffirming its mandate, the ICPC said it remains committed to holding public officials accountable and ensuring that those who abuse positions of trust are brought to justice.
By PRNigeria
