TheIndependent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) is aNigerian agency that was inaugurated on 29 September 2000 following the recommendation ofPresidentOlusegun Obasanjo. The mandate is to receive and investigate reports of corruption and in appropriate cases prosecute the offender(s), to examine, review and enforce the correction of corruption prone systems and procedures of public bodies, with a view to eliminating corruption in public life, and to educate and enlighten the public on and against corruption and related offences with a view to enlisting and fostering public support for the fight against corruption.[1]The Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000 governs the committee's activities.[2]
In 2003, theEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was established as a law enforcement agency to investigate financial crimes such asadvance fee fraud (419 fraud) andmoney laundering.[3]While the ICPC targets corruption in the public sector, especiallybribery,gratification,graft, and abuse or misuse of office, the EFCC investigates people in all sectors who appear to be living above their means, and is empowered to investigate and prosecute money laundering and other financial crimes. The EFCC tracks illicit wealth accruing from abuse of office, especially attempts to integrate such wealth into the financial system.[4]There have been tensions between the two commissions. The ICPC chairman, JusticeEmmanuel Ayoola, has complained about duplication of the functions of ICPC by the EFCC, particularly overlap between the ICPC Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Units and the EFCC Anti-Corruption and Transparency Committees.[5]
TheAssociation of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) is a global organization of professionals dedicated to controlling and preventing money laundering andterrorist financing. In June 2009, ACAMS established a Nigerian chapter inLagos. The Chairman of the ICPC, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, said the ICPC was looking forward to a fruitful partnership with ACAMS in the campaign against corruption and all other related crimes.[6]The commission works with other international bodies such as theUnited Nations Committee on Anti-Corruption (UNCAC),Transparency International, and theAfrican Union (AU) Convention Against Corruption.[7]
In September 2009, a Federal High Court judge refused a request to issue amandamus order compelling the ICPC and the EFCC to investigate and prosecute theFCT Minister, SenatorAdamu Aliero, over alleged diversion of N10.2 billion public funds while he held office asKebbi State governor. The court explained it did not have authority to compel the agencies to act.[8]
In June 2009 theSenate Committee onDrugs,Narcotics andAnti-Corruption moved to amend the Acts setting up the ICPC and the EFCC so as to guarantee independence from the executive. Two of the proposals were to give the EFCC Chair a legally stipulated tenure of four years, and to require Senate approval for removal of members of either commission.[9]A merger of the two agencies was also considered. At public hearings on the amendments, Senate PresidentDavid Mark expressed concern that the EFCC and the ICPC would have too much power without another body supervising their work. However, the EFCC Chairman,Farida Waziri said it was important for anti-corruption agencies to remain independent of politicians, whom they often investigated. She expressed concern that the proposed amendment would rather limit than enhance the effectiveness of the agencies.[10]
| Name | Role | Start | End | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JusticeMustapha Akanbi | Chairman | 2000 | 2005 | [11] |
| JusticeEmmanuel Ayoola | Chairman | 2005 | 2010 | [12] |
| Professor Uriah Angulu | Acting Chairman | March 2011 | [13] | |
| Dr. Rose Abang-Wushishi | Acting Chairman | March 2011 | August 2011 | [14] |
| Barrister Abdullahi Bako | Acting Chairman | August 2011 | November 2011 | [14] |
| BarristerEkpo Una Owo Nta | Acting Chairman | November 2011 | June 2012 | [15] |
| Chairman | June 2012 | January 2018 | [16] | |
| Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye | Chairman | January 2018 | 2023 | |
| Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN | Chairman | December 13th, 2023 | Till date | [29] |
In the first three years of its existence, the ICPC received a total of 942 petitions. In August 2003 about 400 of the petitions were under investigation, and about 60 were at various stages of prosecution.[17]After the first four years, however, the ICPC had failed to make any major convictions. JusticeAkanbi blamed the lack of progress in part on severe underfunding, in part on the fact that the commission was not authorized to investigate corrupt activity prior to the date the ICPC was founded.[18]
The ICPC has prosecuted a number of prominent Nigerians. Some examples areGhali Umar Na'Abba, speaker of the House of Representatives (2002),Fabian Osuji, head of theNigerian Federal Ministry of Education (2006).[19][20][21]
In June 2004, JusticeMustapha Akanbi said that although several petitions had been written against state governors, the ICPC was not empowered to investigate governors involved in corrupt practices.[22]However, in August 2008Emmanuel Ayoola said the commission would soon issue a list of former state governors found to have violated the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000. He noted that some of them were already being prosecuted for money laundering, and said the ICPC was scrutinising the file to see whether there are cases they could pursue.[23]
In August 2009 the ICPC started investigations into an alleged N90 billion fraud leveled against managers of Pension Fund for retirees in the health sector.[24]In September 2009, the ICPC summoned officials of the Ministry of Education linked with the alleged mismanagement of N1 billion meant for the Education Reform Programme.[25]
In March 2015, ICPC made public the status of criminal cases within its precinct as at March 2015. The list contained 267 criminal cases between 2001 and 2015, and 142 civil cases between 2007 and 2015.[26]
The Chairman Ekpo Nta narrowed the meaning ofcorruption by government officials:"Stealing is erroneously reported as corruption. We must go back to what we were taught at school to show that there are educated people in Nigeria. We must address issues as we were taught in school to do."[27]
It followed the previous similar announcement by theNigerian President Goodluck:"What many Nigerians refer to as corruption is actually stealing. Stealing is not the same thing as corruption."[28]