By Stanley Ekpenyong, (South South Breau Chief)
Cross River state’s Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission has been inaugurated by the state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade with a seasoned Accountant and Auditor-General for Cross River Local Government Areas, Mrs Franca Inok emerging as the first woman to serve as a member of such state-driven anti-graft body in the country.
She is also the only woman in the Commission.
At the sidelines of the inauguration, financial experts and women groups were upbeat about the choice of Mrs Inok by the governor as a member of the commission, saying it was a strategic move.
They described her as “a nonsense auditor and an uncompromising disciplinarian who does not brook shady moves, one who brought sanity to bear on Cross River’s local governments pension system”
Mrs Inok and her team are charged with blocking leakages in government.
An Auditor of repute and financial Consultant, Inok is credited with cleaning up Cross River local government areas pension system, weeding out thousands of ghost pensioners in the process.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mrs Inok is member in Practice and spear-headed and founded the First Female Audit Firm in Cross River State in 2012, serving as Managing Partner of Franka Inok & Co.which would later emerge one of the few Bank of Industry certified External Auditor Firms in Nigeria.
The inaguration which took place at the State Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar had the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu and other top government functionaries in attendance.
Speaking at the event, the governor expressed optimism that the Commission will help block leakages in government.
He also urged members of the commission to be above board in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, “there are so many places that we have leakages that we believe that your presence can help to block.
“We would want to be a perfect example of how a public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission could play its role.
“Therefore, there should be no political intrusions of any kind, no hatchets, nothing intended against anyone. It is our intention to give glory to the state and not shame the state”
The governor further charged members of the Commission to “also work with your conscience. You should never, ever be used for any other purpose other than the purpose for which the commission was constituted. So bear in mind that you have been elevated through this commission to serve God before serving the state.”
Responding, the Chairman of the seven- member Commission, Justice Effiom Ita commended the governor for birthing the Commission, assuring that the members will not disappoint.
“Your Excellency, l stand here to promise you and to pledge that we shall do our very best.
“Permit me to say that as we have come onboard as members of this commission, it rests on our shoulders to perform”, Justice Ita said.
On her part, Mrs Inok pledged to bring “my years of auditing experience to bear on the task of making Cross River corruption free”
Other members of the Commission include Barrister Akinde Emmanuel, Eferi Eni Okoi, Comrade John Odey( representing the state government), Emmanuel Adam( representing the Nigerian police) and Faluyi Oluwale( representing the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
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