The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has emphasised the need for transparency in the appointment of judges as a critical step in the fight against corruption in Africa.
Dr. Aliyu made this call on Monday while delivering a lecture to Executive Intelligence Management Course 18 (EIMC 18) participants at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), located at Lower Usuma Dam, Bwari, Abuja.
Delivering the lecture, titled “Non-State Actors and Anti-Corruption Efforts in Africa,” Dr. Aliyu proffered that one of the major solutions to the shackles of corruption in Africa, is to appoint credible and God-fearing Judges, noting that transparency in the process of such appointments by bodies responsible, would ensure that the right persons occupy the courtrooms.
“We in the legal profession – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)-, for many years, have been raising many vital issues, especially in the area of appointment of Judges. We kept on raising that the National Judicial Council (NJC) in Nigeria needs to publish the names of individuals to be appointed as Judges so that people can see them. This is so that the general public may know and make inputs”, he stated.
He further revealed that, “when I was appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), my name was published and people were called to testify over my character. Why would the names of people to be appointed as Judges not be made public? So for many years, we have been hammering on this, that there is a need for the appointment of Judges to be transparent”.
He pointed out that this will have a great impact on the fight against corruption in Africa, stressing that, “if we have good Judges, who are knowledgeable and have the fear of God, they will tackle the challenges of corruption headlong.”
Dr. Aliyu further highlighted the staggering economic loss due to Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), stating that Africa loses approximately US$88.6 billion annually to such illegal activities.
He underscored how this massive capital flight continues to undermine development, perpetuate poverty, fuel insecurity, and hinder the achievement of global and continental development goals such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
Referencing the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on February 11, 2025, Dr. Aliyu noted that Sub-Saharan Africa scored an average of just 33 out of 100—the lowest of all global regions.
Dr. Aliyu explained further that a concerning 90% of countries in the region scored below 50, highlighting the deeply rooted perceptions of corruption in the public sector. Nigeria, he pointed out, ranked 140th out of 180 countries.
The ICPC Chairman, who stressed that the fight against corruption in Africa cannot be won by anti-corruption agencies alone, called for stronger collaboration between government bodies and Non-State Actors (NSAs), emphasising their crucial role in anti-corruption efforts across the continent.
“Non-State Actors—including civil society organisations, the media, academia, religious and traditional institutions, the private sector, and development partners—have emerged as indispensable allies in the fight against corruption,” Dr. Aliyu said.
According to him, though the NSAs operate independently of government control, they wield significant influence on policy, governance, and accountability.
The ICPC boss opined that NSAs contribute meaningfully through various means such as advocacy and public awareness, monitoring and reporting of corruption, promoting transparency, influencing policy and legal reforms, supporting victims and whistleblowers, and empowering citizens to demand good governance.
While citing a notable example from 2024, where the joint efforts of a whistleblower and a media personality led to the ICPC’s recovery of approximately N23 billion in looted funds, Dr. Aliyu concluded that the collective efforts of both state and non-state actors are essential to effectively combat corruption in Africa.
In appreciation, the Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies, Mr. J.O. Odama, FSI, FDC, commended Dr. Aliyu for his thought-provoking and insightful lecture and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Institute. He also extended an open invitation for the ICPC Chairman to return for future engagements.
