Corruption: ICPC Chairman charges State Attorneys General on need to uphold justice

Corruption: ICPC Chairman charges State Attorneys General on need to uphold justice

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, has called on State Attorneys General to persist in their efforts to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in the fight against corruption.

Speaking at a conference with State Attorneys General on strengthening ICPC’s capacity for corruption prevention, in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Aliyu emphasized the importance of justice and fairness in upholding the rule of law and urged the Attorneys General to recognize their pivotal role in fostering a transparent and equitable society.

“We must recognize that corruption is not merely a legal issue but a common enemy hindering national development. It is a cancer that erodes public trust, stifles economic growth, and perpetuates inequality,” he said.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Nigeria’s Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also spoke at the conference, proposing that issues related to corruption be excluded from the scope of the prerogative of mercy during the next constitutional amendment exercise.

“We should work together to eliminate corruption and ensure a just legal framework that protects the rights of all individuals,” he said.

A former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN, also spoke at the event, warning that fear of anti-corruption agencies had become a source of distress to the nation’s economy. He urged Nigerians to bring their monies back home and invest in the country.

Agabi cautioned that, “We have to be careful to ensure, as president Obasanjo feared, that the cure does not turn out to be worse than the disease. We have several institutions fighting corruption today, like the ICPC.

“These institutions have done very well indeed and are entitled to be commended. If we appear to be losing the fight against corruption, the fault is not theirs. We blame them only because we are not aware of the successes that they have achieved and are still achieving – the huge billions that they recover daily, the convictions that they obtain, the fear that they instill in potential criminals.”

The former AGF, however noted that, “It is this fear that is now becoming a source of distress to the nation. The cure is turning out to be worse than the disease. Fear of the EFCC, the ICPC, the SSS, the FIRS, the NFIU and the Police has caused many Nigerians to avoid the banks.

“It has caused some wealthy people to keep their moneys at home; to convert their moneys into dollars and either store at home or bank abroad. Many make their investments abroad for fear of these institutions.

“The monies that we are recovering as proceeds of crime represent a tiny little fraction of the monies that Nigerians have deposited abroad. If these monies are recovered or recalled and invested in education or power or the provision of infrastructures or directed at making the nation self-reliant, it will not be long before the nation is well on the way to ridding itself of corruption.”

He added that corruption cannot be eliminated overnight, noting that it will take time and effort from all stakeholders. “We must learn a lesson from those students of ethics who killed a frog by heating the water gently so that the temperature of the water changed imperceptibly. The frog remained in the water until it reached boiling point and died,” he said.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, underscored the urgent need for political will to translate the conference discussions into action, intending to strengthen the justice sector in Nigeria.

The Chairman, Body of States Attorney General, Dr. Ben Odoh, called for a cohesive approach to reform that not only addresses systemic inefficiencies but also fosters public trust in the legal system.

The conference aimed to examine the current justice system and develop effective strategies to enhance ICPC’s capacity for preventive measures. The event brought together State Attorneys General, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society organizations to strengthen collaboration and fight against corruption.