ICPC Chair Calls to Embed Anti‑Corruption in Legal Training
By Chizoba Njaka
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has urged that anti‑corruption education be institutionalised within Nigeria’s legal training to produce lawyers of integrity, not just legal experts.
Dr. Aliyu made the call in Abuja at the ICPC/Nigerian Law School Workshop for Deans of Faculties of Law, themed “Institutionalising Anti‑Corruption Education in Nigeria Legal Training.” He said corruption undermines development and argued that prevention, education and value‑driven training are essential alongside enforcement.
The workshop examined integrating anti‑corruption studies into the (LL.B) curriculum and the Nigerian Law School in line with the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
Dr. Aliyu stressed the ICPC’s role in facilitating collaboration rather than imposing a fixed framework, and called for ethical values to be embedded early in legal education.
In his opening remarks, the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney‑General of the Federation, Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, (represented by Mr. Kanu Agabi), urged law faculties to confront corruption and support curricular reforms that promote civic responsibility and national unity.
The Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, endorsed the move, noting the Law School’s existing ethics content and describing anti‑corruption modules as timely. The National Universities Commission (represented by Mr. L.M. Farouk) likewise emphasised universities’ role in shaping character and civic responsibility.
The workshop fratured presentations by legal academics, including Prof. Muhammad Tabiu, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, and Prof. Adedeji Adekunle, aimed to produce practical recommendations for integrating anti‑corruption education into legal training.