ICPC Boss Flags Off Three-Day Workshop, Says Illicit Financial Flows Rob Nigeria of Vital Resources
By Pan Afric Reporters
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 critical resources needed for national development, urging public officers to strengthen efforts to detect and prevent money laundering and other financial crimes.
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) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued by the ICPC and signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
The workshop is designed to build the capacity of public officers, civil servants and stakeholders across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to identify, deter and report suspicious financial transactions as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
Speaking at the event, the ICPC chairman said illicit financial flows undermine economic growth, weaken governance and deprive ordinary Nigerians of essential public services, while the benefits accrue largely to a privileged few.
He explained that the training was intended to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to identify financial irregularities and ensure that the nation’s resources were retained and deployed for the benefit of citizens.
“Enforcement is only one leg of the fight against corruption. Sustainable anti-corruption requires prevention through knowledge, integrity and leadership,” Aliyu said.
He added that the commission was investing in the training of public servants and other stakeholders to deepen their understanding of corruption, illicit financial flows and money laundering, while encouraging the adoption of international best practices in public service delivery.
The ICPC chairman urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge acquired in their respective organisations, calling on them to become ambassadors of transparency, accountability and integrity.
ICPC Moves to Upgrade Anti-Corruption Academy
Aliyu also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to repositioning the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria as a world-class institution for anti-corruption training, research and development.
He said the academy would be transformed into a centre of excellence capable of producing professionals equipped to tackle emerging corruption challenges in Nigeria and beyond.
As part of efforts to assess the institution’s readiness for the proposed transformation, the chairman conducted an on-site inspection of the academy’s facilities to identify areas requiring urgent upgrades and improvements.
He assured that the commission would provide the necessary support, infrastructure and partnerships to enable ACAN to meet international standards in anti-corruption education and training.
The ICPC said the initiative reflects its position that sustainable efforts against corruption must combine enforcement with prevention, institutional capacity building and the promotion of ethical leadership across the public service.
