By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for urgent judicial reforms, enhanced capacity building, and deeper collaboration between the Commission and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
Dr. Aliyu made the call during a courtesy visit to the NJI in Abuja, where he was received by the Administrator of the Institute, Hon. Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo, OFR, and members of the management team.
Highlighting the shared history between both institutions, the ICPC Chairman noted that the first leaders of the Commission, like the NJI, were retired judges, a heritage he described as “a natural alignment of vision and duty between our institutions.”
He highlighted the values of courage, knowledge, and integrity, which, according to him, represented the fundamental foundation of the mutuality between the Commission and the Judiciary.
He emphasized that corruption cases must be resolved with speed and consistency if Nigerians are to have faith in the justice system.
“There is a pressing need to amend the Constitution to impose a time limit on the resolution of corruption cases, just as is done with election petitions,” Dr. Aliyu stated.
“We are equally concerned about conflicting trial court judgments that contradict appellate court rulings. This inconsistency undermines public trust in our justice system.”
Dr. Aliyu emphasized the importance of the NJI’s role in implementing key pillars of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, particularly in areas such as asset recovery, case management, and sanctions.
“The corrupt must be deprived of the proceeds of crime through civil forfeiture and speedy criminal trials. Nigerians must see clearly that corruption does not pay,” he stressed.
He also mentioned three thematic areas that he believed required urgent attention to improve service delivery in the judicial system, according to Dr. Aliyu: Constitutional Amendment, Judicial Consistency, and the reconstitution of NJI’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), which has been inactive since 2023, where key to a more robust working relationship between both organisations.
“We urge the Administrator to reconstitute the ACTU and forward the nominees to ICPC. ACTUs are vital compliance structures for preventing corruption within institutions,” he said.
Reaffirming the Commission’s readiness to partner with the judiciary, Dr. Aliyu commended the NJI’s ongoing capacity-building programs, noting that courage, knowledge, and integrity are values shared by both judges and anti-corruption practitioners.
“Capacity building by NJI, in collaboration with agencies like ICPC, is critical for deepening public trust and ensuring justice,” he remarked.
Dr. Aliyu concluded by congratulating Hon. Justice Adejumo on his recent appointment as NJI Administrator, wishing him a successful tenure.
Meanwhile, the Hon. Justice Adejumo thanked the Chairman for the well-adjudged visit and emphasized the intention of the institute to support the anti-corruption drive of ICPC in whatever way possible.
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