By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has warned that illicit financial flows (IFFs) are depriving Nigeria of resources needed to fund development, strengthen public services and improve citizens’ welfare.
According to an official statement signed by the Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC, J. Okor Odey, Aliyu gave the warning on Tuesday while flagging off a three-day combined workshop on IFFs and money laundering, alongside the Anti-Corruption Leadership Series, at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The workshop is designed to strengthen the capacity of public officers, civil servants and stakeholders across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to detect, deter and report suspicious financial activities.
The ICPC Chairman said the benefits of illicit financial flows accrue to a privileged few, while the country bears the cost through lost revenue, weakened governance and diminished public services.
He stressed that the fight against corruption must go beyond enforcement to include sustained training and capacity building for public servants on prevention, integrity and global best practices.
“Enforcement is only one leg of the fight against corruption. Sustainable anti-corruption requires prevention through knowledge, integrity and leadership,” Aliyu said.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop and promote transparency, accountability and integrity in their respective organisations.
Aliyu also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to repositioning ACAN as a world-class centre of excellence for anti-corruption training, research and development.
As part of the initiative, the ICPC Chairman conducted an on-site assessment of the Academy’s facilities to identify areas requiring urgent upgrade, assuring that the Commission would provide the necessary support, infrastructure and partnerships to bring ACAN up to international standards.
