BY BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER ,MINNA
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Niger State,,has Pledged its preparedness to join forces with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in bringing an end to sex for marks in tertiary institutions across the country.
The Niger State Coordinator of the Commission, Mr. Kennedy Ebhotemey gave the assurance while recieving the executive members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in Niger State led by the Chairperson of FIDA Barrister Bolanle Jibogun.
Mr Kennedy stated that ICPC as part of its statutory mandates has the duty to bring any culprits that engages in illicit harassment of girls child in tertiary institutions by lecturers to face the full weight of the law.
According to him, ICPC will Partner with FIDA as gender based none govermental organization to fight the increasing scourge of sexual harrasement and intimidation by lecturers involve in sex for marks "in our tertiary institutions stressing that that the commission has the mandate to bring the culprits to book"
He pointed out that the ICPC as a commission is worried with the increasing proportion of corruption in the tertiary institutions in the country especially among lecturers that are in the habit of demanding for sex for marks from girls child.
" The ICPC, is disturbed with some lecturers that are deliberately failing female Students for refusing them sex for marks.
"We in the ICPC will continue to partner with your organization,we will continue to collaborate with your organization and synegize with your organization to bring these group of lecturers to face the full weight of the law" he asserted.
Mr. Kennedy Ebhotemey explained that corruption has ruined the integrity of the country in the eyes of international communities describing the trends as disturbing.
Although,the state Coordinator of the ICPC was quick to note that he was just three months in the state saying that he has not received any complain of sex for marks from any of the tertiary institutions in the state " but we are not taken any chances to bring them to justice"
He called on well meaning Organizations and agencies as well as individuals to collaborate with the ICPC to Collectively fight corruption to standstill " even though we are fighting corruption and corruption is fighting us back".
Speaking earlier,the Chairperson International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in Niger State Barrister Bolanle Jibogun told the State Coordinator of ICPC that the association was in the Commission as part of the FIDA advocacy to security agencies in the state to seek for collaboration in the fight against gender based violence against girl-child women and vulnerables.
She stated that ICPC as a security outfit With the mandate of investigating corruption and other related crimes and offences the association deemed it necessary to visit the commission to collaborate with " your commission to see how we can also be involve in Collectively curtailing the menace of corruption in our society".
Barrister Bolanle Jibogun then requested the commission support in partnering with the FIDA in the fight against gender based violence against girl-child women and vulnerables in the state.
