Anti-Corruption Agencies Won’t Succeed Working In Isolation – ICPC

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu (SAN) has made a case for effective collaboration among anti-graft institutions in the country, saying enduring success cannot be achieved in isolation.

This is as learned silk allayed fears of possible manipulation of the Commission for political gains, assuring that evidence, law, as well as public interest guide the agencies processes.

Speaking on Thursday at the ICPC National Roundtable with Attorneys-General, themed “Strengthening Synergy Between Attorneys-General and ICPC for a Unified National Response,” in Abuja, Aliyu cited a Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC) study showing bribery, embezzlement and abuse of office as Nigeria’s most prevalent corruption typologies.

He proposed five areas of collaboration — institutional independence, prevention and systems reform, coordinated enforcement, information sharing, and formalised Federal-State partnership — anchored on the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2022–2026.

A statement signed on Thursday by the Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, quoted the chairman as allaying fears of possible manipulation of the Commission for political gains.

The ICPC chairman disclosed that the Commission is working with the Nigerian Law School and university law faculties to institutionalise anti-corruption education in legal training, following stakeholder workshops held in Abuja and Kano between May and July 2026.

He also addressed concerns that anti-corruption petitions could be misused for political victimisation, insisting that ICPC processes are guided strictly by evidence, law and the public interest.

“The fight against corruption will not be won by the ICPC acting alone,” Aliyu said, highlighting that Nigeria’s institutions must strengthen the connections between them rather than work in fragmented isolation.

Meanwhile,Adamu has tasked public relations officers and journalists on the need to bring accuracy and fairness to their crisis-management and reporting duties, warning that irresponsible messaging on the scale of corruption in Nigeria can backfire and inadvertently normalise the very conduct it seeks to condemn.

Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Economic Confidential Annual Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards in Abuja entitled, Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication, Aliyu described strategic communication as one of the most underestimated tools in the fight against corruption.