The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has marked his first anniversary as the head of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency by presenting his account of stewardship.
The event, held on Tuesday at the Commission’s auditorium, also focused on the importance of asset recovery in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
In his speech, Dr. Aliyu who expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the Commission as its fifth chairman, highlighted the Commission’s adaptation to evolving trends, particularly in equipping its workforce with digital tools to combat corruption effectively.
“The current administration’s anti-corruption agenda and my policy thrust encapsulated in the acronym ‘CARE’ have motivated the Commission to enhance its tools, approaches, and engagements. I am proud to reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges we have overcome so far,” he stated.
Dr. Aliyu outlined several achievements under his leadership, including significant financial recoveries:
- Cash recoveries totaling ₦29.7 billion, which are domiciled in ICPC recovery accounts.
- ₦10.986 billion recovered as Value Added Tax (VAT) and remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
- ₦10 billion from the COVID-19 vaccine fund remitted to the treasury.
- Forfeited assets valued at ₦2.5 billion and $966,900.83 in foreign currency.
Additionally, the Commission tracked approximately 1,500 projects valued at ₦610 billion nationwide under Phase 7 of its Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), which concluded last week.
On capacity building and case management, Dr. Aliyu disclosed that the ICPC has developed a specialized cadet training curriculum for its officers, aligning with international best practices.
The ICPC Chairman disclosed that over the past year, the Commission processed 851 petitions, with 342 assigned for investigation, 95 fully investigated, 72 cases filed in court, and 16 convictions secured.
“The Commission has invested heavily in staff training and capacity building to enhance operational capacity. Among other initiatives, we have strengthened our Armed Squad by equipping over 109 members with the necessary training, resources, and skills to combat corrupt practices effectively,” he added.
In the area of corruption prevention, the ICPC assessed 323 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) using its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS). The Commission also established 80 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) across MDAs, preventing the diversion of ₦5.882 billion in public funds. Dr. Aliyu announced that the EICS report conducted earlier this year is ready for release to the public.
Addressing challenges and future directions, Dr. Aliyu emphasized the need to streamline processes for faster and more effective case prosecution. “We aim to consolidate the integrity of our processes to make them more efficient and less prone to abuse,” he noted.
In his keynote address, the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Francis Ben Kaifala, called for reformed policies to make corruption a high-risk, low-return venture.
According to him, corruption has had a devastating impact on sub-Saharan Africa, noting that it has plunged many into extreme poverty, stressing the urgent need for multi-pronged approaches to combat corruption effectively, including public education, prevention, and enforcement.
Mr. Kaifala also discussed the challenges of asset recovery in the continent, citing a World Bank report. He identified the lack of political will, bilateral and economic considerations, and legal impediments as major obstacles to successful asset recovery.
His words, “Recovering stolen funds and assets ensures accountability and returns resources to the state and its people. This process must be robust, persistent, and guided by the law and international best practices,”.
The event featured goodwill messages from several dignitaries, including Senator Emmanuel Udende, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption; Honourable Moshood Akiolu, Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption; and Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).