The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has recovered more than 400 tricycles allegedly withheld by a federal lawmaker for up to three years instead of distributing them to constituents.
The recovery was made during the commission’s ongoing Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Exercise, which is currently in its eighth phase.
Saturday Telegraph gathered that the tricycles, purchased with public funds for constituency beneficiaries, were kept by the lawmaker for between two and three years without being distributed. 
Sources within the anti-corruption agency said the recovered items had been handed over to the intended beneficiaries, many of whom were now using them to generate income and support their families.
One of the sources explained that the commission sometimes had to choose between prosecuting those responsible for diverting public projects and recovering the items for immediate distribution to the intended beneficiaries.
According to the source, the ICPC often favoured distributing recovered materials where doing so would provide immediate relief to communities and help reduce economic hardship.
Another source said the lawmaker, described as a senior federal legislator from southern Nigeria, had kept the more than 400 tricycles for years without making them available to the intended recipients.
The source added that although the commission could have pursued prosecution, it considered the possibility of prolonged court proceedings, which could delay the use of the recovered items for public benefit.
Meanwhile, the ICPC is expected to meet with heads of government departments and agencies in December as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and responsible management of public resources.
