The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for deeper and more coordinated collaboration among West African countries to strengthen asset recovery efforts across the subregion.
Dr. Aliyu made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the 7th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme “A United ECOWAS Against Corruption: Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Asset Recovery and Exchange of Information,” the ICPC Chairman emphasized that fighting corruption and tracing stolen assets require collective action and mutual trust among anti-corruption bodies.
“Asset recovery is most effective when driven by regional and international cooperation anchored on mutual trust, legal reciprocity, and operational synergy among anti-corruption agencies,” Dr. Aliyu said.
He noted that greater collaboration among NACIWA member states would make it easier to trace illicit funds and ensure that the wealth of the region benefits its citizens.
“A unified, harmonized regional approach will enable us to track illicit gains swiftly and prevent their reinvestment within the ECOWAS sub-region,” he added.
Highlighting ICPC’s progress in both criminal and non-conviction-based forfeiture mechanisms, Dr. Aliyu stated that national efforts alone cannot address the scale of illicit financial flows without strong regional and global partnerships.
Delivering the keynote address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume—reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS and NACIWA’s anti-corruption agenda.
The President described asset recovery as a central pillar of West Africa’s anti-corruption efforts and a key strategy to restoring the region’s economic health.
“Recovery of stolen assets is indeed at the core of the region’s fight against corruption. West Africa’s post-independence economic and political trajectory has been blighted by corruption manifesting in the theft and stashing of our commonwealth abroad by corrupt officials,” he stated.
He warned that the continued loss of national resources through illicit outflows and the smuggling of mineral wealth has fueled insecurity, small arms proliferation, and economic instability across the subregion.
“These challenges have worsened the security and development outlook of our region,” President Tinubu said, urging NACIWA members to build a new framework of inclusive action to promote transparency and sustainable growth.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and President of NACIWA, Barr. Ola Olukayode, described the Annual General Assembly as an important platform for evaluating progress and charting new directions for joint anti-corruption efforts.
The event brought together heads of anti-corruption agencies, Attorneys-General, and delegates from across West Africa, including Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, among other dignitaries.
