Honestly, is this what activism and journalism have been reduced to? Personal interest and gains?
Media practitioners and activists defending a politician who paid money to private account worth over half a billion naira left me speechless when Section 713 of the Financial Regulation Act, 2009 is clear on the matter.
Honestly, is this what activism and journalism have been reduced to? Personal interest and gains?
Rather for activists and journalists to call on EFFC, ICPC and relevant institutions to swing to action and ask for resignation for full investigation, some activists are busy writing in defense of this development.
I really don’t understand anymore. If journalism and civil society can be this cornered, then we have a serious problem in our hands and why then should anybody attack corrupt regimes and politicians in the name of journalism and activism when here all I see is defense of corruption and financial fraud allegations.
This is bad for journalism and activism.
In the Financial Regulations (revised edition, 2009), in Chapter 7 “Bank Accounts and Cheques” (specifically, regulation 713) provides that: “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account.
“An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention”. This means that the action will be automatically inferred to be fraudulent.
“The context will determine whether the act is “Misconduct (Section 030301)” or “Serious Misconduct (Section 030401)”. Both have differing punishments and sanctions.
“Misconduct would result in “termination and retirement”, while Serious Misconduct is defined as a specific act of very serious wrongdoing and improper behavior which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and if proven, may lead to dismissal.”
Mr. Richard Inoyo is the Country Director of Citizen’s’ Solution Network.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Richard Inoyo, and do not represent the opinion of TheInvestigator or any other organization the author works for/with.
Hello Inoyo, journalism in Nigeria is the illegal gold mine and journalists are the alibaba and the 40 thieves. I hope you still remember femi adesina and graba shehu and the damage they did which is still reverberating painfully till today. As if that were not enough, we now have a man Friday – a bayo onanuga with his evil propaganda while we are in deep pains…❌❓