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Justice Akanbi Didn’t Want To Be ICPC Chairman, Reveals Obasanjo

“His background and disposition were formidably humble, unassuming, and oozing with patent honesty and integrity. I lost no time in settling for him, even though it wasn’t an easy task to be able to convince or persuade him to accept the task. I had to use all power of persuasion at my disposal to move him to yield," Obasanjo said.

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Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, has revealed that the late Mustapha Akanbi did not originally accept to become Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) when he was nominated for the job.

Akanbi, pioneer Chairman of ICPC and former President of the Court of Appeal, died on Sunday, aged 85.

In a condolence message addressed to the Akanbi family, Obasanjo recalled how he appointed the late jurist in 2000 but he had a tough time convincing him to accept.

“I recall going through a most rigorous search for a new leadership that will take the ICPC to the enviable height I desired for the Commission. Of about 10 people I sought for advice from, seven pointed at Justice Mustapha Akanbi,” he said.

“His background and disposition were formidably humble, unassuming, and oozing with patent honesty and integrity. I lost no time in settling for him, even though it wasn’t an easy task to be able to convince or persuade him to accept the task. I had to use all power of persuasion at my disposal to move him to yield.

“With Justice Akanbi in charge of ICPC, I did not have to worry about how well. He was, of course, a hand-on manager. It is needless to say that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the combined and complementary efforts of ICPC under him and EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu made Nigerians and non-Nigerians to know that corruption can be put in check and put to flight.

“The two commissions raised the hope of Nigerians that this country can get to where and be what God has created it to be if the leadership is right and the will with commitment is there.”

He described Akanbi’s death as a big loss but said it was impossible to question God.

“In a country like ours which is abundantly endowed with stars and frontiersmen, Justice Akanbi was one genuine patriot who radiated dominantly within our national space and beyond,” he said.

“He was a distinguished Nigerian, an icon, a paragon of rightness and rectitude, whose life is devoted entirely to the service of his nation. He was a role model and a nationalist.

“He will be recorded by history as a Nigerian who embodies all the high points of our national achievements, and one of the very rare breed of citizens who have combined total dedication, commitment and excellence in all national endeavours they have engaged in.

“All of these explain his conferment with the medal of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR) and appointment, in the year 2000 by me as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria, to head the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a body vested with the statutory responsibility of combating the malaise of corruption within the Nigerian nation.

“He was a self-made man who built for himself a most inspiring, even intimidating profile as a formidable jurist, a thorough-bred scholar and an exemplary pacesetting administrator.

“His heroic contributions to national development and unity will remain evergreen in the annals of our history. I pray that the Almighty God will in His infinite mercy grant all of us that are associated with him and the immediate family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May He (Almighty Allah) forgive his sins and grant his soul eternal repose.”

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