ICPC Chairman Urges Truthful Crisis Reporting, Warns Against Normalising Corruption

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called on journalists, public relations officers and other communication professionals to adopt accurate, fair and responsible reporting in managing crises and communicating anti-corruption reforms, warning that exaggerated narratives about the prevalence of corruption could inadvertently normalise the vice.

The Commission made this known in a press statement issued by J. Okor Odey, Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC, following the 4th Economic Confidential Annual Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards held in Abuja on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the event, themed “Anti-Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication.”

Aliyu, who was also honoured with an award for championing anti-corruption reforms, described strategic communication as a critical but often underestimated component of the fight against corruption.

He cautioned that communication which repeatedly portrays corruption as pervasive could produce public fatigue and resignation rather than encourage citizens to resist the practice.

According to him, messages about corruption must be truthful while also empowering citizens to understand their role in confronting the problem.

“Citizens cannot support reforms they neither understand nor trust,” Aliyu said.

The ICPC Chairman, citing guidance from the Basel Institute on Governance, said repeatedly telling citizens that “everyone is doing it” could reinforce the perception that corruption is inevitable and weaken individual resolve to reject corrupt practices.

He stressed that this did not mean downplaying the scale of corruption but ensuring that honest disclosure was accompanied by practical information on what citizens could do to challenge it.

Aliyu further advocated communication that is specific, locally relevant and connected to citizens’ everyday experiences, arguing that such messaging would be more effective than broad campaigns that merely highlight the evils of corruption.

He also urged communicators to emphasise the fact that the majority of Nigerians reject corruption, saying such an approach could strengthen public confidence and encourage collective action.

Media critical to anti-corruption fight

The ICPC chairman described the media as a strategic component of Nigeria’s anti-corruption ecosystem, noting that investigative journalism had helped expose major corruption cases and contributed to institutional reforms.

He, however, identified credibility as journalism’s greatest asset, urging journalists to prioritise accuracy, professionalism, fairness and objectivity over sensationalism.

He said responsible journalism was essential to sustaining public trust and strengthening democratic accountability.

Aliyu also highlighted the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and other digital technologies in combating corruption, particularly in predictive analytics, fraud detection and procurement monitoring.

He, however, warned that emerging threats, including deepfakes and digital misinformation, required stronger legal and institutional safeguards.

The chairman said technology must remain a tool for transparency and accountability rather than become an avenue for more sophisticated forms of corruption.

ICPC tracks N22.53trn constituency, executive projects

Providing an insight into the Commission’s enforcement and prevention activities, Aliyu disclosed that the ICPC’s Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative had monitored 4,582 public projects valued at more than N22.53 trillion between 2023 and June 2026.

He said the initiative had facilitated the recovery of stalled projects valued at N507.04 billion, while generating an estimated N385.62 billion in savings for government.

According to him, court-ordered forfeitures had also resulted in the recovery of properties worth more than N5 billion linked to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, as well as N941.9 million associated with a 2024 payroll fraud scheme.

Aliyu said the figures demonstrated the importance of communicating anti-corruption outcomes with evidence rather than relying on narratives capable of undermining public confidence.

ICPC targets corruption through schools

The ICPC chairman also disclosed that the Commission was consolidating its school-based interventions into a National Schools Integrity Programme, stressing that enforcement alone could not address the root causes of corruption.

He argued that while enforcement addresses the symptoms, changing societal values was necessary to tackle the underlying causes.

Aliyu called on stakeholders to draw inspiration from their personal and educational journeys to promote integrity, saying such examples could help restore public confidence and create a culture in which integrity becomes a national value rather than merely a legal requirement.

He further urged communication professionals to recognise their influence as “shapers of perception” and use that influence responsibly.

“The fight against corruption must be paired with truth-telling that is honest enough to be believed, and hopefully enough to be followed,” he said.

Aliyu honoured for anti-corruption reforms

The event, organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) under its Economic Confidential platform, also featured the presentation of a research report on Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Communication in Nigeria.

The ICPC chairman received an award for championing anti-corruption reforms in recognition of his leadership of the Commission’s enforcement, prevention and public enlightenment efforts.

In his welcome remarks, Managing Director of IMPR, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, described Aliyu as an advocate of due process and a strong supporter of anti-graft policies and asset recovery.

Shuaib also emphasised the importance of communication professionals in effective crisis management and public accountability.

The event at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, brought together government officials, public relations practitioners, journalists, editors, diplomats, security agencies and civil society representatives.

The ICPC said the engagement underscored the importance of responsible communication in strengthening public understanding, trust and participation in Nigeria’s continuing fight against corruption.