ICPC to train journalists on investigative reporting

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, Ekpo Nta, on Wednesday in Abuja said that the commission will embark on massive specialised training on investigative reporting and follow-up on cases for media practitioners in the country.
Nta dropped the hint at the ICPC Headquarters when Comrade Chuks Ehirimi, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union Of Journalists, FCT Chapter, led his executive committee members on a courtesy visit to his office.
The ICPC chairman, while responding to the opening remark of Ehirim, assured the NUJ leadership that the commission would continue to partner with the media in the war against corruption in the country.
He said: “Let me assure you that we will continue with the spirit of collaboration by providing specialized training for investigation and follow-up for journalists in the country.”
Nta said journalists should not just cover the arraignment of suspects alone but must “follow-up on cases to the end.
“This is to alert the anti-graft agencies not to sell the case.
“The follow-up will also put the judiciary on notice and put others in the society who may want to commit infraction in the future that they might receive similar treatment in the media.”
While reiterating the importance of the media in the anti-corruption campaign, the ICPC chairman said there is no one that does not know the power of the pen, especially in the Arab Spring, adding: “We shall adopt the use of Arab Spring in sensitizing the public to challenge the corrupt in our society.”
Nta explained that the commission would soon embark on massive publicity to show vivid examples of what corruption is doing to denigrate our people and also to celebrate the youths who are doing well right from the primary school.
He said the problem of corruption was largely based on perception, stressing that with the right environment, “Nigerians are good people.”
Earlier, Ehirim had informed the ICPC management that the NUJ as a professional body “is ready to partner with the ICPC in the fight against corruption.”
He declared: “We are here to pledge our support to the fight against corruption in the land.
“ICPC seems to be the only one diligent in its work without media advertisement.
“You can count on us in this your patriotic job.
“As long as you do the right thing, we will continue to work with you.”