By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
In a strategic move to deepen the fight against corruption in Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has convened a high-level roundtable with Attorneys-General from the North-Central region, aimed at enhancing state-level collaboration and promoting transparency in governance.
The engagement, which took place recently at Noktel Resort in Ilorin, Kwara State, brought together top legal officials from Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau States, alongside senior ICPC officers, Kwara State Ministry of Justice representatives, and other key stakeholders.
Themed “Strengthening Subnational Synergies for Corruption Prevention: Advancing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in Nigeria’s North-Central Region,” the roundtable marked a significant milestone in efforts to institutionalize integrity at the grassroots and harmonize anti-corruption measures between the federal and state governments.
Declaring the forum open, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, emphasized the urgency and timeliness of reinforcing partnerships between federal agencies and state-level actors in the anti-corruption space. His remarks were echoed by goodwill messages from the Senate and House Committees on Anti-Corruption and the Honourable Chief Judge of Kwara State, who collectively stressed the importance of legal synergy and coordinated enforcement.
In his welcome address, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, noted that the Commission is now more deliberate about strengthening its zonal frameworks to ensure corruption prevention strategies are responsive to the unique realities of each region. “Subnational collaboration is the key to embedding accountability into the fabric of governance,” he stated.
A powerful keynote address was delivered by Dr. Suleiman Usman, SAN, former Attorney-General of Sokoto State. His presentation spotlighted practical approaches to institutional collaboration and proposed innovative legal tools that can support stronger enforcement and deterrence across states.
Participants acknowledged the central role of State Attorneys-General in upholding integrity in public administration and called for more structured partnerships with the ICPC to support case investigations, facilitate successful prosecutions, and boost citizens’ trust in government institutions.
This engagement forms part of ICPC’s broader commitment to advancing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) and fostering a culture of ethics and accountability throughout Nigeria’s public sector.
Newspot Nigeria commends this initiative and will continue to monitor the outcomes of this collaborative push against corruption in Nigeria’s North-Central states.
Full Press Statement:
INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC)
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 1st July, 2025
ICPC, NORTH-CENTRAL ATTORNEYS-GENERAL AGREE ON STRONGER COLLABORATION TO FIGHT CORRUPTION
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has taken another bold step in reinforcing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy through a strategic roundtable engagement with State Attorneys-General in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
The forum, which was held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, focused on building subnational alliances to prevent corruption and entrench transparency at all levels of governance in the zone.
The one-day roundtable, which held recently at Noktel Resort in Ilorin, brought together Attorneys-General from the six North-Central states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau, along with senior officials of the ICPC, representatives from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, and other key stakeholders.
The forum was held under the theme: “Strengthening Subnational Synergies for Corruption Prevention: Advancing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in Nigeria’s North-Central Region.”, marks yet another milestone in Nigeria’s broader efforts to institutionalize integrity and uphold the rule of law across all levels of governance.
Declaring the event open was the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, who described the roundtable as timely and essential for consolidating efforts in the war against corruption at both the federal and state levels.
Also delivering goodwill messages were the Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Anti-Corruption, as well as the Honourable Chief Judge of Kwara State. These leaders collectively emphasized the importance of a collaborative framework between anti-corruption agencies and state-level actors.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, stated that the Commission is increasingly focused on strengthening zonal structures to ensure that its preventive and enforcement mechanisms are context-specific and better suited to local realities.
The roundtable also featured a keynote address delivered by Dr. Suleiman Usman, SAN, former Attorney-General of Sokoto State. His presentation provided practical insights on institutional collaboration and legal innovations in combating corruption across tiers of government.
Participants at the roundtable noted that Attorneys-General play a critical role in safeguarding integrity in governance through their constitutional responsibilities. They stressed that enhancing synergy with the ICPC would not only strengthen prevention efforts but also improve investigations, prosecutions, and public confidence in government institutions.
Signed
Demola Bakare, fsi
Director, Public Enlightenment and Education / Spokesperson for the Commission
