ICPC recovers N39.7bn, secures 17 convictions in one year

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN, has recovered the sum of N29.700 billion in cash and another N10 billion meant for the production of the COVID-19 vaccine within the period of December 13, 2023, and December 13, 2024.

This was revealed on Tuesday by the Commission chairman while giving an account of his stewardship as the helmsman of the anti-graft agency to mark his one year in office held at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja.

Dr. Aliyu said his one year in office marked a significant milestone in the collective fight against corruption.

According to him, the ICPC, under him, continued to adapt to evolving trends in fulfilling its mandates, including equipping its workforce with digital strategies to combat corruption.

He added that President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s anti-corruption agenda and his (Aliyu’s) own policy thrust, encapsulated in the acronym “CARE” for impact, have further motivated the Commission to enhance its tools, approaches, and engagements.

The chairman said that with a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, the ICPC achieved significant milestones, including notable asset recoveries, enforcement actions, and initiatives promoting transparency and good governance over the past year.

According to him, ICPC “recovered₦29.700 billion in cash, domiciled in ICPC recovery accounts.

“₦10.986 billion VAT recovered and remitted to FIRS.

“N10 billion Covid-19 vaccine fund meant for production of vaccine remitted to the Treasury,” while the value of the asset through final forfeiture was N2.5 billion.

In terms of foreign currency recovered, the chairman informed that the anti-graft agency retrieved $966,900.83, which was now secured in the ICPC-CBN account balance brought forward.

In the area of project tracking, Aliyu said, “The Commission just completed the tracking of 1,500 projects, valued at N610 billion, nationwide under CEPTI Phase 7. Upon completion of tracking field work last week, follow-up activities are ongoing and the report is being collated.”

He informed that as part of its institutional accountability, ICPC within the period under review assessed 423 MDAs through its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).

He further informed that in the process, the anti-graft agency was able to stop the diversion of public funds to the tune of ₦5.882 billion.

He further informed that within the period under review, ICPC processed 851 petitions, with 342 assigned for investigation, 95 fully investigated, 72 cases filed in court, and 16 convictions secured.

“In this regard, we are streamlining our processes to ensure faster and more effective prosecution of cases, leading to the resuscitation of 10-15-year-old cases in courts,” he said.

The chairman said that in repositioning ICPC as the foremost law enforcement agency, the Commission had developed a specialised cadet officer training curriculum specifically for its officers in line with international best practices.

He added that to enhance its operational capacity, the Commission has taken significant steps to strengthen its armed squad by equipping its over 109 members with the training, resources, and skills needed to effectively aid the combat against corrupt practices.

“Also in the year, the Commission launched a new digital platform for promoting transparency and ethical practices among all Nigerians, the youth-driven Ethics Pod.

“Additionally, it revamped its weekly television program, Corruption Must Go, to align with modern viewership trends, rebranding it as Transparency Files to enhance public engagement and awareness.

“Our social media presence hits, and general engagement on digital platforms tripled over the year.

“In the last year, the Commission has invested heavily in training and capacity building of our staff, ensuring the upscaling of skills and expertise needed to tackle corruption,” Aliyu informed.

According to the senior advocate, to further its commitment to building systems and institutions that were ingrained with corruption prevention frameworks, ICPC established strategic collaborations with several ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and fostered strong partnerships with other anti-corruption agencies, both locally and internationally.

The commission also advanced the fight against sexual harassment and corruption in educational institutions and public offices, achieving ongoing prosecutions and increased public support, reducing stigma, and giving victims a voice to report and participate in efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Dr Aliyu said ICPC conducted many public awareness activities and physically reached 1,458,021 individuals in 2024.

The Commission’s public engagement and sensitisation, according to him, targeted diverse groups, including faith-based, youth and women organisations, as well as community leaders, religious institutions, the school system, civil society organisations (CSOs), professional bodies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

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