By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
Asaba, Delta State — In a renewed push against corruption at the sub-national level, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) hosted a landmark conference with Attorneys-General from the South-South region, laying the foundation for a stronger regional alliance to fight graft and promote institutional integrity.
Themed “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free South-South,” the one-day conference held at Spring Hill Hotel & Suites, Asaba, brought together top legal officers, ICPC officials, and stakeholders from the Delta State Ministry of Justice to chart a common front in curbing corruption across the region.
Declaring the event open, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation, applauded the initiative and called for a reinforced synergy between federal and state actors in delivering good governance.
In his welcome address, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, underscored the critical importance of state-level partnerships to actualize ICPC’s preventive mandate. He emphasized that effective collaboration with State Attorneys-General would allow for tailored, regionally-sensitive solutions to Nigeria’s corruption challenge.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, spotlighted the influence and responsibility of State Attorneys-General in crafting legal deterrents and administrative reforms that reduce avenues for corruption.
Other highlights of the summit included goodwill messages from the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau and other State Attorneys-General, all echoing a shared vision of transparency, rule of law, and regional unity in tackling corruption.
Participants welcomed ICPC’s zonal strategy, praising it as an effective approach that respects Nigeria’s diversity while promoting a coordinated anti-corruption agenda.
Key resolutions from the conference included:
- Strengthening collaboration between ICPC and State Attorneys-General;
- Using state constitutional powers to prevent corruption;
- Joint capacity-building to boost prosecutorial and investigative effectiveness;
- Establishing frameworks for information sharing and best practice exchange;
- Advocating transparency through e-procurement and real-time monitoring;
- Reviewing anti-corruption laws to close legislative gaps;
- Deepening cooperation among South-South Attorneys-General.
The event, which ended on a high note of optimism and unity, reflects ICPC’s growing emphasis on inclusive governance and regional ownership of anti-corruption efforts. With legal officers at the helm, the South-South zone is poised to be a model for institutional accountability and integrity.
Newspot Nigeria commends this collaborative move as a strategic milestone toward a corruption-free Nigeria. Full official statement follows:
INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC)
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, 2nd June 2025
ICPC, South-South State Attorneys-General Strengthen Regional Alliance Against Corruption
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reiterated its commitment to regional collaboration in the fight against corruption, following a successful one-day conference with State Attorneys-General from the South-South region of Nigeria.
The conference, held at Spring Hill Hotel & Suites, Asaba, was themed “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free South-South.”
It convened key legal officers from South-South states, ICPC officials, and representatives from the Delta State Ministry of Justice to chart a unified course in promoting integrity and combating corruption at the sub-national level.
Declaring the conference open, the Special Guest of Honour and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, lauded the initiative and emphasized the necessity of strong collaboration between federal and state institutions in advancing good governance and accountability.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau and various Attorneys-General, all expressing a shared commitment to institutional integrity and the rule of law.
Delivering the keynote address, former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, highlighted the strategic role of State Attorneys-General in creating legal and administrative frameworks that deter corruption.
In his welcome address, the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, stressed the importance of building strong partnerships at the state level to support the Commission’s prevention-focused mandate.
Participants at the summit acknowledged the central role of State Attorneys-General in leveraging their constitutional powers to prevent corruption.
The zonal strategy adopted by the ICPC was praised for offering region-specific solutions to corruption, with participants advocating a decentralized, cooperative approach to crime detection and prevention.
The conference also recognized the valuable contributions of South-South Attorneys-General and called for stronger ICPC-state partnerships going forward.
Parts of the resolutions and recommendations reached at the end of the one-day event included, but not limited to, the following:
- Foster closer collaboration between ICPC and State Attorneys-General;
- Leverage the constitutional mandates of Attorneys-General to promote corruption prevention within their states.
- Partner on capacity-building initiatives to enhance investigative and prosecutorial competencies;
- Develop a framework for information sharing and adoption of best practices.
- Promote transparency in public procurement through the use of e-procurement platforms and real-time monitoring tools.
- Review existing legislative frameworks to strengthen anti-corruption laws.
- Deepen inter-state collaboration among Attorneys-General in the South-South region.
This conference marks another strategic step in ICPC’s ongoing engagement with sub-national actors, underlining the shared responsibility of all levels of government in building a corruption-free Nigeria.
Signed
Demola Bakare, fsi
Director, Public Enlightenment and Education / Spokesperson for the Commission
