By Atoyebi Nike
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has called for transparency in judicial appointments as a key strategy to combat corruption in Africa.
Speaking to participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 18 (EIMC 18) at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja, Dr. Aliyu stressed that credible, God-fearing judges appointed through a transparent process are critical in tackling corruption.
“The National Judicial Council must make the names of proposed judges public to allow citizens to contribute to the vetting process. Transparency in these appointments is fundamental,” he said.
Dr. Aliyu emphasized that Africa loses about $88.6 billion annually to illicit financial flows, a drain that undermines development and fuels insecurity. Citing the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, he noted Sub-Saharan Africa’s average score of 33/100, with 90% of countries in the region scoring below 50. Nigeria ranks 140th out of 180 nations.
He urged greater collaboration between governments and Non-State Actors (NSAs) such as civil society, the media, academia, and faith institutions. Highlighting a 2024 case where a whistleblower and journalist helped ICPC recover N23 billion, he said NSAs play a vital role in monitoring, advocacy, legal reform, and citizen engagement.
The Commandant of NISS, Mr. J.O. Odama, commended Dr. Aliyu for his insights and invited him for future engagements at the institute.
