Babatunji Wusu –
- Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the ICPC, urged the National Assembly to urgently pass the Whistleblower Act Bill into law.
- He emphasized the importance of the bill in encouraging individuals to expose corruption and illegal activities.
- Aliyu called on Nigerians to resist bribery and report corrupt practices to relevant authorities.
- He highlighted the role of local Attorneys-General in collaborating with the ICPC to strengthen accountability and transparency.
- A significant 70% of Nigerians refused bribes in 2023, with the North West region showing the highest refusal rate of 76%.
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Whistleblower Act Bill into law. Speaking at the ICPC Roundtable Engagement with State Attorneys General in Kano, Aliyu emphasized that the passage of the bill is crucial to creating an environment where individuals feel confident in exposing corrupt practices and illegal activities.
Aliyu also urged Nigerians to reject bribery demands from public officials and report such incidents to the authorities. He reiterated that combating corruption requires a collective effort from both the government and the public, stressing that the ICPC would continue collaborating with relevant stakeholders to fight corruption within the framework of the law.
The ICPC Chairman further appealed to the Attorneys-General of the North West to work closely with the commission to strengthen accountability systems. He highlighted that while the ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute corruption across all sectors, local support and knowledge are vital for more effective action.
Aliyu also shared encouraging statistics, noting that in 2023, 70% of Nigerians refused bribery requests at least once, with the North West region showing the highest refusal rate at 76%. This signals a growing resistance to bribery across the country. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of tackling corruption for the prosperity of the nation, asserting that no country can thrive where corruption persists.
In his remarks, Justice Muhammad Lawal Shu’aibu, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, urged anti-graft agencies to intensify their efforts in addressing corruption in all its forms.
