By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of an unprecedented ₦37.44 billion and $2.353 million in 2025, marking one of the most significant annual asset recoveries in the Commission’s history and underscoring what its leadership described as a landmark year in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
The figures were disclosed in Abuja by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, during the ICPC End-of-Year Engagement, Send-Forth for retiring staff and Annual Merit Awards Ceremony. The disclosure was contained in an official statement signed by the Commission’s Spokesperson, Mr. J. Okor Odey.
Reviewing the year’s performance, Dr. Aliyu described 2025 as “a pivotal year marked by substantial progress across enforcement, prevention and public enlightenment,” noting that the Commission surpassed several of its operational targets. According to him, ICPC investigated 263 cases during the year, exceeding its benchmark of 250, and filed 61 cases before the courts, recording a conviction rate of 55.74 per cent.
Among the most high-profile cases concluded in 2025 was the conviction of Professor Cyril Ndifon of the University of Calabar, who was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for offences bordering on sexual harassment and cyberbullying. Dr. Aliyu said the judgment sent a strong and unmistakable signal that abuse of office, in whatever form, would not be tolerated.
Beyond enforcement, the Chairman highlighted the Commission’s extensive preventive interventions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He disclosed that 344 MDAs were assessed using the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, while 66 corruption monitoring exercises and 1,490 project-tracking activities were carried out nationwide to ensure value for public funds. In addition, Systems Study and Corruption Risk Assessments were completed in 12 MDAs, aimed at eliminating structural weaknesses that enable corruption.
On public enlightenment and citizen engagement, Dr. Aliyu said the Commission reached over 235,000 Nigerians through 644 sensitisation activities. He added that ICPC generated about 3.5 million digital engagements, established 86 Anti-Corruption Clubs and Vanguards across the country, and trained 2,707 participants at the ICPC Academy as part of efforts to entrench a culture of integrity from the grassroots.
The Commission also expanded its collaborative footprint, initiating 15 partnership activities with key stakeholders, while civil society organisations carried out 57 complementary engagements in support of ICPC’s mandate.
In what he described as “historic and worth celebrating,” the Chairman announced that the Commission had, for the first time, successfully secured the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) allowance for its staff. He reaffirmed ICPC’s commitment to improving staff welfare and strengthening institutional capacity as critical pillars for sustaining performance.
Dr. Aliyu also commended staff members who emerged winners in the Annual Merit Awards, noting that the peer-driven nomination process enhanced transparency and credibility. Retiring officers were equally honoured for their years of dedication, professionalism and service to the nation.
Looking ahead, the ICPC Chairman urged personnel to approach 2026 with renewed commitment, cautioning against complacency and misconduct. He called for integrity, diligence, professionalism and unity of purpose as the Commission intensifies its role in the national anti-corruption agenda.
“Let us recommit ourselves to building a stronger ICPC and contributing more meaningfully to the fight against corruption in our country,” he said.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr. Victor Muruako, Esq., praised ICPC’s interventions at the local government level and reaffirmed the FRC’s readiness to deepen inter-agency collaboration. He noted that ending the year with such an engagement offered an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s collective progress in combating corruption.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDa), Ms. Souad Osman-Aden, congratulated the Commission on what she described as a productive and impactful year. Referring to the recently refreshed Memorandum of Understanding between both organisations, she lauded ICPC’s achievements in asset recovery and the fight against illicit financial flows.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Dr. Umar Yakubu, represented by Mr. Victor Agi, commended ICPC’s partnership on the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Government (ACPP-LG). He also praised the transparency of the Commission’s asset recovery process, noting that such openness strengthens public confidence in governance and accountability.
