Dr. Musa Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has urged the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to impose specific deadlines for prosecuting corruption cases involving politicians and prominent individuals.
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Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Lulu A, Aliyu said the move would help end the culture of prolonged trials that undermine transparency, accountability, and Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive. He proposed the creation of special courts for corruption cases with constitutionally prescribed timelines, similar to election petitions that must be concluded within 180 days.
“If you keep on dragging corruption cases, it will take 10, 12, 15 years… Even witnesses and anti-corruption leaders may have left office before judgment is delivered. This weakens confidence in the system. We need to fix this challenge through constitutional amendment,” Aliyu stated.
Aliyu reflected on Nigeria’s vast resources and intellectual capacity, lamenting that corruption and resistance to accountability remain stumbling blocks. He described how citizens who stand for truth often face hostility, stressing that the younger generation is eager to reposition Nigeria if the right structures are in place.
The ICPC chairman identified weak local government autonomy and compromised state electoral commissions as barriers to credible democracy. He criticized state assemblies for undermining court rulings on financial autonomy and extending caretaker administrations illegally.
“If state electoral commissions remain under partisan influence, we cannot have transparent grassroots democracy,” he warned.
Citing the 2024 National Corruption Survey by UNODC, ICPC, EFCC, and the National Bureau of Statistics, Aliyu noted that 70% of Nigerians now refuse to pay bribes, while more citizens are reporting corruption without fear of backlash. He also pointed to Nigeria’s modest rise on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index from 145th to 140th.
He added that Nigeria is playing a continental role in asset recovery, chairing the interim African Asset Recovery Practitioners Forum, aimed at tracing and repatriating stolen wealth and artifacts.
Aliyu strongly advocated the passage of the Unexplained Wealth Bill, saying it would empower agencies to confiscate assets beyond an individual’s legitimate income.
“Without this bill, it is difficult to deprive people of illicit wealth because of the burden of proof in criminal trials. If you can’t explain your assets, the law should empower us to seize them,” he said, referencing UN and AU conventions urging such legislation.
He also called for the passage of the Whistleblower Bill to protect informants and strengthen intelligence gathering.
The ICPC boss linked poverty with corruption, arguing that many political elites live far beyond their declared assets, engaging in anticipatory declarations to mask illicit enrichment. He emphasized prevention strategies such as blocking ghost workers from payrolls—where ICPC recently saved over ₦20 billion—and tracking constituency projects to stop diversion of funds and materials.
Aliyu lamented Nigeria’s declining ethical standards, where dishonest wealth often earns more respect than integrity:
“We are not rewarding honesty the way we should. Society now celebrates unexplained riches rather than intellectuals and professionals who contribute genuinely.”
Aliyu admitted that leading an anti-corruption agency in Nigeria is “sitting on a hot seat,” as powerful individuals often resist scrutiny and resort to intimidation.
“Whatever you say or do, people interpret it through their own interests. I have faced petitions, even before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, which were dismissed. But this is the reality of fighting corruption in Nigeria,” he said.
Dr. Musa Aliyu called on the National Assembly, civil society, and Nigerians at large to support reforms that would entrench accountability. He stressed that without constitutional timelines for corruption trials, passage of the Unexplained Wealth Bill, and stronger grassroots democracy, Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight would remain slow and ineffective.
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