By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
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.
According to Demola Bakare, Spokesperson for the Commission, theconferencee, held at Spring Hill Hotel & Suites, Asaba, Delta state, was themed “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free South-South.”
Prompt News reports that 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
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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.
