The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has sought collaboration with Attorney-Generals in Northwest to fortify system of accountability and transparency in the fight against corruption.
Its Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu-Aliyu, SAN, made the plea during a one-day conference held in Kano on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by ICPC in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption(RoLAC) funded by European Union and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
NAN also reports that the event with the theme: “Establishing A Community of Practice for Attorney Generals” was meant to strengthen ICPC’s capacity for corruption prevention.
Adamu-Aliyu said the initiative, which drew attorney-generals from Northwest aimed at fostering a long term partnership in building a united front against corruption in Nigeria.
“Today’s gathering is crucial as we bring together key stakeholders at the subnational level to discuss the fight against corruption.
“No country can thrive where corruption thrives. No single arm of government or tier of government or agency can fight corruption alone. We need to come together locally, regionally, nationally and internationally for us to effectively fight corruption,” he said.
The chairman noted that 70 per cent of Nigerians approached for a bribe in 2023 refused to comply on at least one occasion.
“In the Northwest, 76 per cent of individuals who encountered bribery requests resisted, this is the highest refusal rate among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, indicating growing resistance to bribery in the region,” he revealed.
Adamu-Aliyu identified collaboration and partnership as the cornerstone towards a successful fight against corruption.
“As Chairman of the ICPC, I am committed to ensuring that the commission uses its law enforcement powers and preventive measures to foster public support in combating corruption in Nigeria.”
“Let me call on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the whistleblower protection Bill to safeguard Nigerians exposing corruption in public and private sectors.
“I urge Nigerians to reject any demand for bribe. Whoever requested for bribe from you, please reject it, if you can’t, report it, and don’t be afraid to report it,” Adamu-Aliyu advised.
The Chief Judge of Kano, Justice Dije Abdu-Aboki, said Kano State Judiciary has taken proactive measures “to ensure that corruption is rooted out within its own system.
“We established the Judicial Public Complaints Committee (JPCC), which has been instrumental in addressing grievances and promoting accountability.
“The JPCC serves as a mechanism for investigating allegations of misconduct, abuse of power and corruption within the judiciary.”
Justice Muhammad Lawal-Shu’aibu of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, urged the anti-graft agencies to focus on prosecuting high-profile cases rather than low-level offenders to ensure impactful results.
Mr Emmanuel Uche, representing the European Union and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, stressed the importance of collaboration with the state attorney-generals in anti-corruption crusade.
NAN reports that other speakers at the conference include; attorney-generals of Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, as well as Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr Abdullahi Usman-Bello, among others. (NAN)
