BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has warned that illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to deprive Nigeria of vital resources needed for national development.
Aliyu gave the warning on Tuesday while flagging off a three-day combined training workshop on Illicit Financial Flows and Money Laundering, alongside an Anti-Corruption Leadership Series, at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Keffi, Nasarawa State.
According to a press statement issued by the Head of Media and Public Communications, ICPC, J. Okor Odey, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of public officers, civil servants and other stakeholders across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in detecting, preventing and reporting suspicious financial activities.
The ICPC Chairman said illicit financial flows undermine economic growth, weaken governance and worsen the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, noting that the benefits of such activities accrue mainly to a privileged few while the country bears the cost through lost revenue and reduced public services.
He said the training was intended to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to detect, deter and report illicit financial activities, thereby helping to ensure that Nigeria’s resources are retained and deployed for the benefit of citizens.
Aliyu also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to repositioning ACAN as a world-class centre for anti-corruption training, research and development.
He said the Academy would be transformed into a centre of excellence capable of producing highly trained professionals with the expertise required to tackle emerging corruption challenges in Nigeria and beyond.
According to him, the fight against corruption must go beyond enforcement to include continuous training and capacity building for public servants on international best practices.
“Enforcement is only one leg of the fight against corruption. Sustainable anti-corruption requires prevention through knowledge, integrity and leadership,” he said.
Aliyu urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge acquired in their respective organisations, while encouraging them to become ambassadors of transparency, accountability and integrity.
The ICPC Chairman also conducted an on-site assessment of facilities at the Academy to identify areas requiring urgent rehabilitation and upgrading.
He assured that the Commission would provide the necessary support, infrastructure and partnerships to reposition ACAN and ensure that it meets international standards in anti-corruption training and education.
