By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) have renewed their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening anti-corruption initiatives and advancing asset recovery efforts across the continent. The MoU was signed on Tuesday at the ICPC Headquarters in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day.
According to an official statement by the ICPC Spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, received the CoDA delegation led by its Executive Director, Ms. Souad Osman-Aden, alongside Ambassador Maxwell Mkwezalamba, Senior Adviser to the coalition. Dr. Aliyu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to deeper continental cooperation, noting that he currently chairs the Steering Committee of the Africa Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Forum, which is working to enhance anti-corruption frameworks and asset return mechanisms across African countries.
Ms. Osman-Aden expressed appreciation for the warm reception, stating that CoDA continues to expand with increased engagement from African nations. She explained that the coalition brings together individuals with proven expertise to bridge critical gaps in combating corruption and illicit financial flows. She said the renewed MoU demonstrates a shared resolve to support Africa’s fight against corruption and build stronger institutional capacity.
Ambassador Mkwezalamba also commended the ICPC Chairman for hosting the delegation and expressed optimism about the long-term impact of the renewed partnership.
Responding, Dr. Aliyu described the MoU as a practical tool for capacity building and collaborative action, stressing that ICPC has intensified efforts to recover stolen assets and repatriate African cultural artefacts for development purposes. He questioned why African countries should continue paying foreigners to access their own heritage, insisting that reclaiming cultural identity must form part of the broader anti-corruption agenda.
He noted that Africa’s challenges require collective responsibility, urging both organisations and member countries to maintain consistent virtual engagements to drive implementation and measurable outcomes. The ICPC Chairman said the renewed agreement aligns with the objectives of the recently passed Asset Recovery Bill and builds on previous joint efforts to validate processes for combating illicit financial flows.
Both ICPC and CoDA expressed confidence that the renewed partnership would accelerate the repatriation of stolen assets, strengthen continental coordination against corruption, and ensure that recovered resources and cultural heritage are used for the benefit of African citizens.
