From the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu, came a revelation that over N13 billion in public funds were diverted in September 2024 alone.
Aliyu, who made this revelation, yesterday, in Abuja at the launch of the commission’s 2024-2028 Strategic Action Plan (SAP), said ICPC recovered the funds while discharging its mandate.
“Over the past year, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate. For example, we recovered over N13 billion of 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.
Aliyu noted that the ICPC was developing a specialised curriculum to enhance the enforcement capacity of its personnel, adding that the initiative would equip officers with the skills and expertise needed to address the complexities of corruption cases with the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.
In response to findings from the third National Corruption Survey, Aliyu said the commission had intensified efforts to broaden the reach of the anti-corruption campaign by actively engaging citizens, civil society and the media.
He said, “A key part of this initiative is our upcoming EthicsPod digital community, designed to foster a culture of transparency and accountability across public offices and everyday life nationwide. These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy, forming the backbone of our SAP 2024-2028, which builds on our past achievements and charts a clear path for the future.
“This SAP, in line with our ‘CARE for Impact’ initiative provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving our goals over the next five years. It aligns with key national policies such as the Nigeria Agenda 2050, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2022-2026, and the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, among others.”
As part of the strategy, he said ICPC would continue to strengthen its institutional integrity and deepen collaborations with other stakeholders.
In his remarks, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who insisted that the fight against corruption remained a cornerstone of the present administration’s agenda, noted that the government recognised corruption as a “cancer that eats away the fabric of society, undermines trust, weakens institutions and hampers the progress of the country”.
He added, “The launch of this SAP is both timely and necessary. It represents a clear roadmap for the commission to strengthen its operations, enhance transparency and deepen collaboration with stakeholders at all levels of government and private sector.
“The plan will undoubtedly empower the ICPC to address emerging challenges, adapt to evolving threats and more effectively carry out its mandate.”
Fagbemi assured stakeholders of the ministry’s support in providing the necessary legal framework, resources and guidance to ensure that the objectives of the action were fully realised.
