Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
THE TOP10 MAGAZINE ANTI-CORRUPTION CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, is like the goldfish: he has no hiding place. His performance as a legal expert and public officer always stands him out among the rest. This fact came out clearly when he served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Jigawa state between 2019 and 2023. He spearheaded transformative reforms in the justice sector that distinguished his tenure through the introduction of initiatives that promoted the rights of women and children. Dr. Aliyu established the Jigawa State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, which set the benchmark in transparency and accountability in governance. In that role, also, he collaborated closely with international agencies and organizations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to enhance governance systems.
These initiatives did not go unnoticed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who appointed him as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency, in October 2023. Now, as the fifth Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Aliyu is replicating his usual sterling performance and distinguishing himself as Nigeria’s anti-corruption czar. His first year at the helm has already elevated the Commission to new heights, positioning it as a beacon of honour and integrity. His adherence to the rule of law and international best practices has attracted respect, admiration and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across Nigeria.
Dr. Aliyu’s anti-corruption agenda and policy thrust as encapsulated in the theme: Care, Accountability, Responsibility, and Efficiency (CARE), have motivated the Commission to enhance its tools, approaches, and engagements. It prioritizes proactive measures for corruption prevention without neglecting enforcement. His leadership emphasizes integrity, innovation, and strategic use of modern technology to enhance ICPC’s operations.
The result has been the bundle of achievements the Commission has recorded in just the first year of Dr. Aliyu’s leadership, including significant financial recoveries. The Commission made cash recoveries totaling ₦29.7 billion, which are domiciled in ICPC recovery accounts. It recovered ₦10.986 billion as Value Added Tax (VAT) which was remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and ₦10 billion from the COVID-19 vaccine fund remitted to the treasury. It also secured the forfeiture of assets valued at ₦2.5 billion and $966,900.83 in foreign currency. In addition, the Commission tracked approximately 1,500 projects valued at ₦610 billion nationwide under Phase 7 of its Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI).
During the first year under Dr. Aliyu’s leadership, the Commission processed 851 petitions, with 342 assigned for investigation, 95 fully investigated, 72 cases filed in court, and 16 convictions secured.
In the area of corruption prevention, the ICPC assessed 323 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) using its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS). The Commission also established 80 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) across MDAs, preventing the diversion of ₦5.882 billion in public funds.
With regards to capacity building and case management, the ICPC has developed a specialized cadet training curriculum for its officers, aligning with international best practices. The Commission has invested heavily in staff training and capacity building to enhance operational capacity. Among other initiatives, it has strengthened its Armed Squad by equipping over 109 members with the necessary training, resources, and skills to combat corrupt practices effectively.
To confront current and future challenges and forge the way forward, Dr. Aliyu is emphasizing the need to streamline processes for faster and more effective case prosecution. He aims to consolidate the integrity of the Commission’s processes to make them more efficient and less prone to abuse.
Under Dr. Aliyu’s leadership, ICPC and Nigeria have been accorded multiple awards and recognitions, locally and internationally, for their exceptional performances in the fight against corruption. At the international level, Dr. Aliyu was elected as the Chairperson of African Assets Recovery Practitioners’ Forum (AARP-F) by its interim council members. The ICPC Chairman also successfully led Nigeria to secure re-election into the Steering Committee of the Global Operational Network of the Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network), thereby putting Nigeria on a global pedestal.
Dr. Aliyu who hails from Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State, North-Western Nigeria, obtained his law degree from the Bayero University, Kano, in 2003, and his Master’s in Law degree (LLM) in Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2011. He also obtained a PhD degree in 2019 at the School of Law Universiti Utara Malaysia in Constitutional Law, specialising in Appointment and Discipline of Judicial Officers in Nigeria. He attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, on October 12, 2023, just five days before his appointment as the ICPC Chairman, and was inaugurated on November 27.
Dr. Aliyu’s extensive career has seen him in the academic world where he served as a lecturer at the Jigawa State College of Islamic Legal Studies and the Faculty of Law, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State. He has authored publications featured in local and international journals and has participated in numerous conferences globally.
Dr Aliyu has held various offices in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano Branch, including, Vice-Chairman (2016 – 2017); Chairman, Human Rights Committee (2016 – 2017); Secretary, Continuing Legal Education Committee (2014 – 2016); and member, Anti-Corruption Committee (2012 – 2014).
He was first appointed as the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Jigawa State, on 30 September, 2019, by the immediate-past Governor of the state and current Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar. Dr. Aliyu was serving in the same capacity in the current administration when he was appointed ICPC Chairman on October 17, 2023.
Dr. Aliyu is being honoured by The Top10 Magazine as the Anti-Corruption Champion of the Year 2024 for the many achievements he has already recorded within a short time of his appointment as Chairman of ICPC.
