By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has urged Attorneys-General across the North-East to play a frontline role in promoting institutional integrity and strengthening collaboration in the fight against corruption.
Dr. Aliyu made the call in Maiduguri, Borno State, while declaring open a high-level roundtable organised by the Commission for State Attorneys-General in the North-East zone. The event, with the theme “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free North-East,” drew top officials from the judiciary, legislature and academia.
In his opening remarks, the ICPC Chairman warned that corruption continues to weaken economies, fuel insecurity and erode public trust, emphasising that only coordinated action between federal and state institutions can effectively tackle the menace. “Punishment alone is not enough. We must combine approaches: recover stolen assets, restore justice to victims, strengthen our systems, and above all, work together across institutions and across regions,” he said.
He recalled that the initiative began in Abuja on 3 September 2024, and has since moved across the geo-political zones before reaching Maiduguri for the North-East session. Dr. Aliyu also commended the National Assembly Committees on Anti-Corruption and paid tribute to eminent jurists in attendance, describing their contributions as invaluable.
Delivering the keynote address, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (SAN), stressed that the North-East, despite its abundant resources, continues to suffer from insecurity, humanitarian crises and slowed development challenges that make accountability and clean governance even more critical. He described cooperation between State Attorneys-General and the ICPC as a “strategic imperative” capable of ensuring quicker investigations, stronger prosecutions and more effective preventive frameworks.
In a goodwill message, the Chief Judge of Borno State, Hon. Justice Kashim Zannah represented by Hon. Justice Aisha Kumalia hailed the engagement as a vital platform for strengthening inter-agency coordination, noting that effective prosecution of corruption cases depends on synergy between State legal authorities and federal anti-corruption agencies.
At the end of the roundtable, participants adopted a communiqué reaffirming their commitment to a corruption-free North-East. The communiqué outlined key resolutions, including the formalisation of the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the establishment of a joint intelligence and case-management framework, and an increased focus on preventive mechanisms such as procurement monitoring and data-driven risk management. It also underscored the importance of capacity-building for prosecutors and investigators in areas such as forensic technology, cybersecurity and modern investigative tools.
Participants further highlighted the role of community leaders, civil society and the media in promoting anti-corruption awareness at the grassroots level using local languages.
With these commitments, the North-East zone is expected to take the lead in entrenching transparency and accountability at state and local government levels, while setting a national example of effective collaboration between State and Federal institutions.
The roundtable was attended by Attorneys-General from Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, along with key stakeholders from the judiciary, legislature and academia.
