- Northeast Attorneys General unite against the cankerworm
The fight against corruption is a national struggle to promote transparency, accountability and justice. It is also to ensure that available resources serve the people, strengthen institutions, and foster sustainable development for future generations. The matter was the focal point of discussion at a roundtable organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorneys General and political leaders from the states in the Northeast Nigeria, DUKU JOEL writes
Corruption remains one of the biggest albatross in the nation’s social and political development. While successive regimes have made deliberate efforts through legislations and the establishment of institutions like the Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the challenges still linger in the implementation and the efficacy of the laws and the institutions.
At a recent roundtable hosted by the ICPC, political leaders and anti-corruption czars pledged to make a push to combat corruption in Nigeria’s Northeast, a region scarred by years of insurgency and humanitarian crises.
The event held penultimate week at the Amada International Hotel in Maiduguri. The theme was “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free Northeast”. It brought together egg heads in the ICPC, the Attorneys-General from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states in a renewed effort to tackle corruption and strengthen institutional integrity in the region.
The top–level legal officers and stakeholders were expected to chart strategies to curb graft and promote good governance and foster a united force against corruption in the region and the country in general.
Recover stolen assets, strengthen anti-corruption institutions
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, emphasized that punishment alone cannot defeat corruption.
According to him, there is the need for a multi-faceted approach that includes strengthening systems, recovering stolen assets, and supporting victims.
“We know from global experience, and from our laws, that punishment alone is not enough. We must combine approaches: recover stolen assets, restore justice to victims, strengthen our systems, and above all, work together across institutions and across regions,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC boss cited the Supreme Court decision in AG Ondo State v. AG Federation, which emphasised the need for joint efforts from both tiers of government in tackling corruption. In the opinion of Dr. Aliyu, corruption remains one of the most stubborn challenges that has significantly contributed to the country’s weak economy, insecurity, and the lack of public trust in government institutions.
“Corruption remains one of the most stubborn challenges of our time. It weakens economies, fuels insecurity, and undermines public trust. The world today speaks with one voice against corruption, and Nigeria must not be left behind”, Dr. A;iyu said.
While giving a brief background of the engagement, the ICPC boss said, “we began this journey on 3rd September, 2024, when we held the inaugural roundtable in Abuja with 34 out of 36 Attorneys-General present. Since then, we have moved across the six geopolitical zones, Kano for the Northwest,Asaba for the Southsouth, Ilorin for the Northcentral and Enugu for the Southeast. Today, we gather in Maiduguri for the Northeast,” he said. Dr. Aliyu also took his time to commend the Borno State Government for prioritising judicial reforms while noting that such efforts would significantly iimpact the anti-corruption fight.
“Here in the Northeast, we know how deeply corruption and weak institutions can worsen insecurity and poverty. Yet, we also know the power of reform. The Borno State Judiciary, under the leadership of the Chief Judge, Justice Zanna Kashim, has set an example for the nation in judicial reforms.
“That spirit of reform is what we must carry into today’s discussions,” he added. Agreeing with the initiative of the engagement were the remarks of the Chief Judge of Borno State Justice Kashim Zannah who was represented by Aisha Kumalia.
Yobe State Attorney-General, Barrister Saleh Samanja, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the synergy wouldn’t have come at a better time than now.
He stressed the need for state governments through the instrumentality of the law to strengthen the war against corruption.
A university don and Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Prof. Auwalu Hamisu Yadudu, reminded the Attorneys-General not to forget their profession as lawyers while they hold political offices as well.
In his opinion, Nigeria as a federation requires such meeting to discuss areas of conflict and jurisdictions in our laws and strengthen national cohesion.
“It is a welcome development because in a federation like ours in Nigeria, there is a possibility of conflicts in jurisdictions but sitting together and addressing things together can minimize or perhaps can even eliminate areas of conflicts,” he said.
The Professor of Law, who spoke on the likely conflict if one person should hold the positions of the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice. He said the officer would hold to allegiance to his employer. He said it largely lay with the individual holding the office and how he is able to discharge his duties independently within the extant laws.
“The independence of the institution is a matter for the officers or the officials heading such organisation to exercise the independent powers given to them by the constitution and by the law and to be a deterrent to the rule of law and exercising independent judgment to carry out their functions.
“There need not be conflict of interest. Sometimes, we do not know what happens between the chief law officer of the state and his principal. They will not come and say it in the public how and where they disagree or how they resolved it. They won’t come and say so. I know it’s very painful for them to be accused of one wrong doing or another perpetrated by their principal and them looking at it and doing nothing because if they also do, they would be held liable for breach of confidentiality”.
“On the separation of the office of the Attorney-General with Commissioner for Justice, I personally do not think it’s the separation that would ensure independence or autonomy. There are other climes where the office is occupied by one person but they still discharge their independent judgment and advise the Chief Executive and still do not undertake any prosecution or legal processes. So I don’t think separating the office will attain that objective”, Prof Yadudu explained.
Absence of oversight functions create grounds for corruption
Keynote speaker, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (SAN), a former Attorney-General of Borno State who represented the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Sen. Emmanuel Udende, said the Akpabio-led Senate was a friendly force of the ICPC in fighting corruption in Nigeria which is determined to strengthen antigraft institutions through robust legislations and effective over-sighting.
Senator Lawan noted that the fight against corruption wasn’t just a legal matter but a critical battle for survival, security, and public trust, while urging a strategic and sustained partnership between State Attorneys-General and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Senator Lawan framed the collaboration as a strategic imperative for the Region’s sustainable recovery. He argued that with billions of naira flowing into the Northeast for reconstruction and humanitarian aid, a lack of coordinated oversight could create a fertile ground for corruption. The consequences are tangible and devastating: underfunded schools, dilapidated hospitals, and weakened security infrastructure.
“Every naira lost to corruption is a blow to survival, stability, and the dignity of our people”, Lawan stated, emphasising that corruption in the Northeast wasn’t an abstract problem, but a lived reality.
His words; “As I have already stated, it is both an honour and a responsibility to address this distinguished gathering of State Attorneys-General, senior officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other stakeholders committed to advancing transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s governance.
Our topic today, which is “Building Effective Partnerships between State Attorneys-General and the ICPC: A Strategic Imperative for Sustainable Corruption Prevention in Nigeria’s Northeast”, is not just an academic subject, but a call to action at a time when our region, and indeed our nation, cannot afford the heavy costs of corruption.
Corruption is not an abstract governance problem; it is a lived reality that manifests in underfunded schools, dilapidated hospitals, uncompleted roads, delayed salaries, and weakened security infrastructure. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Northeast, a region with vast economic potential, yet one that has endured years of insurgency, humanitarian crises, displacement, and slow-paced recovery. In such an environment, every naira lost to corruption is a blow to survival, stability, and the dignity of our people.
“The task before us is further complicated by the scale and complexity of resources flowing into the Northeast, from federal allocations and state budgets to humanitarian aid, donor funds, and reconstruction projects. These streams, if left without adequate oversight, become channels for mismanagement and diversion. The consequence is twofold: development stalls, and public trust in government institutions erodes.
Against this backdrop, the role of the state Attorneys-General, as chief law officers of their respective states, becomes pivotal. You are the constitutional custodians of legal order at the state level, with authority to initiate and oversee prosecutions, advise on governance processes, and ensure that the actions of government comply with both the letter and spirit of the law.
The ICPC, on its part, has a federal mandate not only to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices but also to engage in systemic reforms, preventive education, and inter-institutional collaboration”.
“It is at the intersection of these mandates that the opportunity for effective partnership emerges. By working together, aligning legal authority with investigative reach, and harmonising preventive measures with prosecutorial strategies, state Attorneys-General and the ICPC can form a powerful coalition capable of closing systemic loopholes, deterring corrupt conduct, and building public confidence in governance.”
Gaps hindering corruption fight
While both the ICPC and the state Attorneys-General share a common mandate to uphold integrity, Sen Lawan pointed out several persistent gaps that hinder their effectiveness which according to him includes; Fragmented Legal Frameworks: These are inconsistencies between Federal and State laws which create loopholes that corrupt actors exploit.
Weak Information Sharing: which involves the lack of a formal, secure system for exchanging intelligence and case-related data that often leads to delays and missed opportunities for intervention;
Capacity Constraints: where many state-level agencies lack the financial resources and specialised training in areas like forensic accounting and cybercrime investigation needed to handle complex corruption cases.
Other gaps according to Sen. Lawan have to do with Political Interference: which is significant challenge of political pressure on Attorneys-General to shield politically-connected individuals from prosecution;
Lack of Proactive Monitoring: which stresses that anti-corruption efforts are often reactive, focusing on prosecution after funds are diverted, rather than preventing corruption from happening in the first place.
Pathways to a resilient partnership
To overcome these challenges, Senator Lawan in his paper outlined several practical pathways for building a more-effective and resilient partnership. His recommendations were not just about talk, but about tangible, structural change.
“For the partnership between state Attorneys-General and the ICPC to move beyond good intentions and translate into measurable outcomes, it must be built on deliberate, structured, and sustained pathways. These pathways should not only address existing gaps but also create a proactive, resilient framework for preventing, detecting, and prosecuting corruption in the North-East,” he advised.
Way forward
Some of the ways forward, suggested by Sen. Lawan, include Legal and Policy Harmonisation: He called for a comprehensive review of state laws to align them with federal standards and the development of a formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to clearly define roles and responsibilities.
Joint Operations and Case Management: Lawan proposed the creation of a Northeast Regional Anti-Corruption Intelligence Network and Joint Case Review Panels to facilitate intelligence sharing and coordinated prosecution strategies.
Preventive Monitoring: The address emphasised the need for a shift from reactive to proactive measures, including the establishment of Joint Integrity Monitoring Teams to audit procurement processes and an increased focus on institutionalising ethical codes and whistleblower protections.
Capacity Building: Senator Lawan underscored the importance of sustained training, technical assistance, and staff secondments to equip both state and federal personnel with the specialised skills needed to combat modern corruption.
Public Engagement and Social Accountability: He argued that corruption wilts under public scrutiny and called for the active involvement of citizens, civil society organizations, and the media through accessible whistleblower channels and community-based monitoring.
Institutionalisation: Lawan stressed that the partnership must be institutionalized through formal agreements, dedicated funding, and regular joint reviews to ensure its sustainability beyond political transitions.
A call to action
Concluding remarks, Senator Lawan issued a powerful call to action, urging the roundtable to move beyond discussion and into a space of formal commitments, concrete timelines, and measurable outcomes.
He underscored that the North-East’s unique vulnerabilities, including the large influx of humanitarian aid and reconstruction funds, make a coordinated approach even more urgent.
He highlighted the need to prioritize the monitoring of these funds and the auditing of reconstruction projects to ensure that resources genuinely reach the people they are intended for.
His words; “While the fight against corruption in Nigeria’s North-East is a legal or institutional challenge, it is equally a moral, developmental, and security imperative. The region’s ongoing insurgency, humanitarian crises, and massive
reconstruction efforts have created both urgent needs and significant resource flows. In such a context, corruption is not just an economic drain; it is a direct threat to peace building, human dignity, and the prospects for long-term stability. The partnership between State Attorneys-General and the ICPC , he said offers a unique opportunity to align legal authority with investigative capacity, policy influence with operational reach, and state-level insight with federal oversight.
But for this partnership to achieve its full potential, it must be deliberate, coordinated, and sustained. It must be anchored in trust, guided by shared priorities, and reinforced by institutional mechanisms that survive political transitions. We must commit to joint intelligence-sharing, coordinated investigations, harmonised policies, and targeted public engagement.
We must also prioritize the specific vulnerabilities of the North-East, monitoring humanitarian funds, scrutinizing reconstruction projects, and ensuring transparent security sector expenditures.
“The call to action is clear: let this roundtable be the starting point for an enduring alliance, one that speaks with one voice against corruption, acts with unity of purpose, and delivers justice that is both seen and felt. Together, let us build the foundations of integrity on which the North-East’s recovery and Nigeria’s future can securely rest”, he said.
“When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion”, Senator Lawan said, concluding with a powerful metaphor. By uniting the legal force of the State Attorneys-General with the investigative and preventive power of the ICPC, he believes they can tie down the lion of corruption and secure the region’s future. The challenge now is for these words to translate into a lasting alliance that transforms governance and inspires national reform.
