The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has emphasised the need for stronger national collaboration to combat cyber-enabled corruption and economic sabotage.
The call was made during the 6th Edition of the NSCDC Lagos Public Relations Lecture, held at the Federal Secretariat in Lagos. The event, themed “Cybersecurity: A Panacea to Ending Economic Sabotage in Nigeria – The Role of NSCDC,” brought together key stakeholders from security, regulatory, academic, and private sectors.
In his opening address, Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, represented by DCC Afuye Toyin Andrew, highlighted the urgency of uniting efforts to address critical cybersecurity gaps.
Representing the ICPC Lagos State Office, Mrs. Mary Omonoyan participated in a panel discussion, outlining the Commission’s strategic role in safeguarding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure. She stressed that robust cybersecurity is fundamental to protecting public funds and closing digital loopholes exploited by corrupt actors.
“Tracing illicit cyber activities often requires advanced blockchain analysis and enhanced international intelligence sharing,” the ICPC representative stated. She detailed key ICPC interventions, amongst others:
- Continuous monitoring of government e-platforms.
- Collaboration with agencies like NITDA, NCC, CBN, EFCC, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
- Strengthening the Commission’s Digital Forensics Unit for improved cryptocurrency tracing and device forensics.
Omonoyan also cited ICPC’s engagement with global and regional bodies like the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption and pointed to practical outcomes, such as the recent conviction of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, former Dean of Law at the University of Calabar, as direct benefits of engaging technology and digital forensics in the fight against corruption.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Adedeji Oyenuga of Lagos State University, who warned that unsafe digital practices like downloading pirated content or clicking suspicious links leave individuals and institutions vulnerable to cybercriminals.
His presentation was followed by a lead discussion by Associate Professor Waziri Adisa of the University of Lagos and a panel featuring representatives from the DSS, Fire Service, Correctional Service, Fibre One, Sterling Bank, and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Omonoyan reiterated that Nigeria cannot effectively curb corruption without securing its digital infrastructure. She called for stronger systems, deeper collaboration, and a united defence of the nation’s digital space.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all participating security agencies, academia, regulators, and the ICPC to fortify Nigeria’s resilience against cyber-enabled corruption and economic sabotage.