The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for a more intensified and coordinated regional approach to asset recovery across West Africa, emphasising the need for collective action, information sharing, and mutual trust among anti-corruption institutions in the subregion.
Dr. Aliyu made the call on Tuesday while delivering his remarks at the 7th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.
Describing the Assembly’s theme, “A United ECOWAS Against Corruption: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Asset Recovery and Exchange of Information,” as both timely and urgent, the ICPC Chairman urged West African countries to strengthen cooperation mechanisms to effectively trace, recover, and repatriate stolen assets.
“Asset recovery is most effective when driven by regional and international cooperation anchored on mutual trust, legal reciprocity, and operational synergy among anti-corruption agencies,” Dr. Aliyu stated.
He noted that regional collaboration among NACIWA member states is crucial to tracking illicit assets and ensuring that the collective prosperity of the region benefits its people.
“A unified, harmonized regional approach will enable us to track illicit gains swiftly and prevent their reinvestment within the ECOWAS sub-region,” he added.
While highlighting ICPC’s progress in both criminal and non-conviction-based forfeiture mechanisms, which have led to several significant recoveries, Dr. Aliyu emphasized that domestic success alone is insufficient to curb the scale of illicit financial flows without robust regional and global cooperation.
In his keynote address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS and NACIWA’s anti-corruption agenda.
He described asset recovery as a central pillar of the region’s anti-corruption efforts and a necessary step to reclaiming West Africa’s economic vitality.
“Recovery of stolen assets is indeed at the core of the region’s fight against corruption. West Africa’s post-independence economic and political trajectory has been blighted by corruption manifesting in the theft and stashing of our commonwealth abroad by corrupt officials,” President Tinubu said.
He further warned that illicit outflows, resource theft, and the smuggling of mineral wealth continue to fuel insecurity, proliferation of small arms, kidnapping, and banditry, which collectively undermine regional stability and development.
“These challenges have worsened the security and development outlook of our region,” he cautioned, urging the General Assembly to develop a new framework of inclusive action to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and promote sustainable growth.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and President of NACIWA, Barr. Ola Olukayode, noted that the Annual General Assembly serves as a platform for reflection, evaluation, and strategic planning, enabling member states to assess progress and chart new directions for collaboration.
The 7th NACIWA Annual General Assembly brought together heads of anti-corruption agencies, Attorneys-General, and delegates from across the West African subregion, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, among other dignitaries.
