… described as an uncommon man of honour
By Emman Ovuakporie
Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, a lawyer and public servant is among the nominees in the 2021 Most Outstanding Nigerians in the fourth edition of the Gani Fawhinmi Integrity Award series.
In the short citation of Dr Tonye Jaja he was described as one Nigerian that lived above board serving Nigeria during his stint as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission from May 2019 to October 2020.
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is an agency of the federal
government of Nigeria responsible for copyright matters within Nigeria.
It is to my knowledge that upon his assumption of office, Dr. Tonye Clinton
Jaja discovered evidence of deep conflict of interest and corrupt practices
perpetrated by the Director-General of the NCC.
Despite offers of huge inducements and subsequently, threats to his life, Dr.
Jaja reported the infractions to the Code of Conduct Bureau and made stringent efforts for the infractions to be dealt with in line with the law and the
rules.
As a result of his determination to uphold the law, Dr Clinton-Jaja was
removed from his position as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian
Copyright Commission.
In my dealing with Dr. Tonye Clinton-Jaja, I have found him to be an uncommon man of honor and unquestionable integrity at a time when such values are disappearing rapidly from our society.