Sultan urges ICPC to arrest individuals hoarding commodities

Kunle Sanni

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and apprehend people who are stockpiling commodities for marketing purposes.

Abubakar said this on Thursday during a meeting with Garba Tukur-Garba, the ICPC commissioner overseeing the states of Sokoto and Kebbi. Food hoarding, according to the Sultan, is another form of corruption.

“Hoarding foodstuff is corruption. Some marketers hoard food items to obtain gains especially during Ramadan fasting. I have been talking against such attitudes

“Hoarding essential commodities with intent to obtain higher gain is against religious doctrines and the laws prohibit such acts because it subjects people to hardship,” Abubakar said.

The Sultan emphasised that the fight against corruption must be supported at all levels and asked the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to coordinate their efforts in this regard. He gave the ICPC confidence that the traditional rulers would assist in preventing corruption. The Sultan further advised the agency not to conduct partisan inquiries.

“Anti-corruption agencies must succeed. We are ready to support you at every level. The Sultanate council has reprinted books authored by Sheikh Usman Danfodio and his disciples on corruption,” he added.

As for the ICPC, its commissioner stated that the organization’s fight against corruption is essential to the country’s prosperity, progress, and good governance.

According to Tukur-Idris, the ICPC is dedicated to finding and eliminating corruption since it harms Nigeria’s reputation.