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Seriously? Is Itse Sagay Babysitting Ikoyi Whistle Blower?

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PASA), Prof Itse Sagay has said the Ikoyi Whistle Blower is not ‘sufficiently stable’ to receive his commission due to him, likening him to someone who would go ‘crazy’ when he gets the money, and spend it imprudently.

This is coming after the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun said he would be paid this month, claiming that the Federal Government, had not withheld any fund due to the Ikoyi Whistle Blower, saying payments are made in monthly batches, to ensure the protection of information providers.

It is also coming after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Boss, Ibrahim Magu, described the Whistle Blower as a millionaire, by virtue of the percentage he was officially entitled to from the recovered loot, saying he is being counselled on how to make good use of the money, and the security implication.

The Ikoyi Whistle Blower’s Lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, misinterpreted the EFCC boss’s statement that the Whistle Blower has been paid. He thereafter cleared the air saying his client is yet to be paid after several efforts to get payment from the Federal Government was unsuccessful.

Reactions have however trailed Sagay’s statement, as some members of the public said the statement was offensive, stressing that the Whistle Blower does not need counseling from the Government on how to spend his ‘hard earned money’.

Commentators held that the Whistle Blower had endangered his life to reveal such top information to the anti-graft agency and as such be paid in full.

“Whether or not he spends the money imprudently, who owns the money? It is no longer their business as to how he spends it”.

Others faulted Sagay’s statement, saying if the Whistle Blower would ‘run mental’ as he claimed, the EFCC would not have acted on the information disclosed.

Sagay, who hailed the Federal Government’s decision to pay the Whistle Blower in tranches, said the money is valuable, and the Government could have used it for millions of unemployed and ‘wretchedly poor people’.

Members of the public have also reacted to the above statement, saying the actions of the Federal Government towards the Ikoyi Whistle Blower, could deter the public from further revealing such information to anti-graft Agencies.

Lawyer to the Ikoyi Whistle Blower, Yakubu Galadima agreeing with some of the views of the public, and reacting to Itse Sagay’s statement said even if his client had ‘mental issues’, he still deserved to be given his due.

He threatened to disclose details to the world if the Federal Government fails to pay his client by the end of the month, stating that if they act favorably, their image will be redeemed.

“Does Prof Sagay have contact with my client? Does my client not have relatives that can take care of him? Even a mad man is entitled to his estate so what are they talking about? That is not an excuse as far as I am concerned”.

The Whistle Blowing Bill

The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) whistleblowing programme, is designed to encourage anyone with useful information on violation of financial regulations, mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets, collection or soliciting of bribes, making of fraudulent and unapproved payments, diversion of revenues and procurement fraud, amongst others, report to the Ministry.

The Whistle Blower Protection Bill seeks to increase exposure of financial-related crimes, support the fight against financial crimes and corruption, improve the level of public confidence in public entities, and enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

The Bill also aims at improving Nigeria’s Open Government Ranking and Ease of Doing Business Indicators and the recovery of public funds that can be deployed to finance Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.

Sagay, had in May 2017, said the Whistle-Blowing Policy of the Federal Ministry of Finance has made unprecedented recoveries for the Government even without an enabling law, saying the non-passage of the bill by the National Assembly could affect the war against corruption negatively.

Some Lawyers in Nigeria, have also said unless the Whistle Blower Protection Bill is assented to, by the President and implemented, the fight against corruption may be threatened due to the fear of victimization.

Prof Sagay’s characterization of the Ikoyi Whistle-Blower, as a baby needing regulated breastfeeding, may not speak well of the Presidency to others.

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