The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has taken another bold step in reinforcing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy through a strategic roundtable engagement with State Attorneys-General in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
The forum, which was held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, focused on building subnational alliances to prevent corruption and entrench transparency at all levels of governance in the zone.
The one-day roundtable, which held recently at Noktel Resort in Ilorin, brought together Attorneys-General from the six North-Central states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau, along with senior officials of the ICPC, representatives from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, and other key stakeholders.
The forum was held under the theme: “Strengthening Subnational Synergies for Corruption Prevention: Advancing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in Nigeria’s North-Central Region.”, marks yet another milestone in Nigeria’s broader efforts to institutionalize integrity and uphold the rule of law across all levels of governance.
Declaring the event open was the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, who described the roundtable as timely and essential for consolidating efforts in the war against corruption at both the federal and state levels.
Also delivering goodwill messages were the Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Anti-Corruption, as well as the Honourable Chief Judge of Kwara State. These leaders collectively emphasized the importance of a collaborative framework between anti-corruption agencies and state-level actors.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, stated that the Commission is increasingly focused on strengthening zonal structures to ensure that its preventive and enforcement mechanisms are context-specific and better suited to local realities.
The roundtable also featured a keynote address delivered by Dr. Suleiman Usman, SAN, former Attorney-General of Sokoto State. His presentation provided practical insights on institutional collaboration and legal innovations in combating corruption across tiers of government.
Participants at the roundtable noted that Attorneys-General play a critical role in safeguarding integrity in governance through their constitutional responsibilities. They stressed that enhancing synergy with the ICPC would not only strengthen prevention efforts but also improve investigations, prosecutions, and public confidence in government institutions.