Nigeria's ICPC Recovers N13bn Stolen Public Funds

ICPC Recovers N13bn Looted Funds

“This transformation will position the commission as a leader in leveraging technology to combat corruption...”

Nigeria's ICPC intensifies anti-corruption drive, recovers N13 billion, engages citizens, civil society, and media.

Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against corruption, recovering over N13 billion in public funds diverted for personal use in September alone. This impressive haul was announced by ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu during the launch of the commission's Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 in Abuja.

The recovery is a testament to the commission's tireless efforts in combating corruption and ensuring accountability in Nigeria. Chairman Aliyu commended the commission's work, highlighting its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance investigations, case management, and internal processes. The ICPC is also developing a specialized curriculum to enhance the enforcement capacity of its personnel and decentralizing anti-corruption efforts by empowering state governments.

ICPC's Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028

Combating Corruption: The plan focuses on leveraging technology, enhancing institutional integrity, and fostering collaborations with key stakeholders.

Prevention is Better than Cure: The ICPC has intensified efforts to identify institutional and administrative vulnerabilities through System Studies and Corruption Risk Assessments.

Engaging Citizens and Civil Society: The commission is launching the EthicsPod digital community to foster a culture of transparency and accountability nationwide.

The ICPC's efforts have been lauded by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who emphasized the importance of combating corruption in Nigeria. With this strategic plan, the ICPC aims to strengthen institutional integrity and deepen collaborations with stakeholders to ensure accountability and transparency in Nigeria.

“Over the past years, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate; for example, we recovered over N13 billion diverted public funds in September 2024 alone. This is just one of the many ways we have worked tirelessly to fulfil our mandate,” he said.

“We are also embarking on ICT reforms that will digitalise our operations and enable more efficient investigations, case management, and internal processes.

“This transformation will position the commission as a leader in leveraging technology to combat corruption, keeping us one step ahead of criminal activities in the digital age.”

The ICPC is taking its anti-corruption efforts to the next level by developing a specialized curriculum aimed at boosting its personnel's enforcement capacity. This move is part of the commission's strategic plan to enhance its effectiveness in combating corruption. By investing in the training and development of its staff, the ICPC is poised to tackle corruption more efficiently and effectively.

This initiative is likely to cover key areas such as:

Investigation Techniques: Enhancing the skills of ICPC personnel in gathering evidence, conducting interviews, and building strong cases against corruption suspects.

Legal Frameworks: Ensuring that personnel are well-versed in relevant laws and regulations, including the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act.

Ethics and Integrity: Fostering a culture of transparency and accountability within the commission.

With this specialized curriculum, the ICPC is set to strengthen its capacity to combat corruption and promote good governance in Nigeria.

The ICPC chairman, Musa Aliyu, recently highlighted the commission's progress in combating corruption. In September, the ICPC successfully hosted a conference with state attorneys-general, drawing over 30 top law officers from across the states. This gathering aimed to strengthen collaboration and unity in the fight against corruption.

Building on this momentum, the ICPC has intensified its efforts to broaden the anti-corruption campaign's reach. In response to the findings from the Third National Corruption Survey, the commission is actively engaging citizens, civil society, and the media to promote transparency and accountability. 

This multi-faceted approach includes:

Citizen Engagement: Empowering citizens to report corruption and participate in the anti-corruption effort

Civil Society Partnerships: Collaborating with non-governmental organizations to amplify the anti-corruption message

Media Outreach: Leveraging media platforms to raise awareness and promote transparency

The ICPC's integrated approach is designed to cultivate a society where transparency, accountability, and integrity thrive in Nigeria.

“A key part of this initiative is our upcoming EthicsPod digital community, designed to foster a culture of transparency and accountability across both public offices and everyday life nationwide,” Aliyu said.

“These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy, forming the backbone of our Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028, which builds on our past achievements and charts a clear path for the future.”