Iraqi panel accuses Nineveh governor of corruption

NINEVEH, Iraq

An Iraqi parliamentary committee has called for suspending Nineveh governor Nofal al-Akoub amid accusations of corruption.

"Through a diligent work of the fact-finding committee in Nineveh province, very serious files have been revealed regarding unprecedented financial violations of [governor] al-Akoub,” panel head Osama al-Nujaifi said in a late Monday statement.

The MP called for "swift measures, including the suspension of the governor's work to prevent any influence on integrity committees and judicial authorities that investigate him."

He also called for taking legal measures to bar the governor from travelling abroad.

According to Transparency International, Iraq ranks among the world's worst countries in terms of government corruption.

Writing by Mahmoud Barakat