The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of over ₦13 billion in diverted public funds in September 2024.
This was revealed by the commission’s chairman, Adamu Aliyu, during the launch of the agency’s 2024-2028 strategic action plan held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Aliyu, while making the announcement, refrained from specifying the sectors or individuals involved in the recovery.
However, he stressed the commission’s relentless efforts to fulfil its anti-corruption mandate.
“Over the past year, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate; for example, we recovered over ₦13 billion in diverted public funds in September 2024 alone.
This is just one of the many ways we have worked tirelessly to fulfil our mandate,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC chairman also revealed the commission’s ongoing plans to modernise its operations through the adoption of digital tools.
According to Aliyu, the commission is set to embark on major ICT reforms aimed at enhancing investigations, case management, and internal processes.
“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,” he stated.
These reforms, Aliyu noted, would enable the ICPC to be more efficient in tracking and prosecuting corrupt practices, particularly in a digitalised world where new challenges continue to emerge.
In addition to digital reforms, Aliyu disclosed that the commission is developing a specialised curriculum aimed at bolstering the capacity of its personnel to handle complex corruption cases with greater professionalism and efficiency.
This training initiative is seen as a crucial step in enhancing the ability of ICPC officers to navigate intricate cases that demand both legal expertise and investigative skills.
Furthermore, Aliyu highlighted efforts to decentralise anti-corruption activities by empowering state governments.
Through a collaboration with State Attorneys General, the ICPC aims to bring anti-corruption tools closer to the grassroots, allowing for more effective prevention and management of corruption at the local level.
“Additionally, we are decentralising the anti-corruption effort by empowering state governments through the mobilisation of State Attorneys General.
This approach ensures that state governments are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to effectively combat corruption at the local level,” Aliyu added.
Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to the fight against corruption, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Lateef Fagbemi, reiterated the administration’s determination to root out corrupt practices.
He emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s administration regards the fight against corruption as central to its governance agenda, underscoring that corruption weakens institutions and hinders national progress.
“The fight against corruption remains a cornerstone of this administration’s agenda, as we recognise that corruption is a cancer that eats away at the very fabric of our society.
It undermines trust, weakens institutions, and hampers our progress as a nation,” Fagbemi said during the event.
He further lauded the ICPC’s ongoing efforts, noting that their work not only targets the prosecution of corrupt individuals but also aims to cultivate a broader culture of accountability and integrity within Nigerian society.
Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, also pledged the judiciary’s full support for the ICPC’s new action plan.
She emphasised the importance of collaboration between institutions in tackling corruption, noting that the problem extends beyond financial theft to encompass failures in public responsibility.
“Implementation and collaboration are vital. Corruption is not just about stealing money; it is failing to do what you ought to do. We are a great country.
“ We will do what we can to support the ICPC in implementing the action plan,” Justice Dongban-Mensem remarked.
The ICPC’s unveiling of its 2024-2028 strategic plan and the recovery of ₦13 billion in diverted public funds signal the agency’s unwavering resolve to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption framework.
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