ICPC Calls for Tactical, Tech-Driven Approach to Combat Corruption
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ICPC Calls for Tactical, Tech-Driven Approach to Combat Corruption
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has emphasized the need for more tactical and technology-driven approaches to combat corruption in Nigeria, as financial crimes become increasingly sophisticated.
This appeal was made during a high-level engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV Consultation Team in Abuja.
ICPC Secretary, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling corruption through intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration.
According to Mr. Richard Bello, Deputy Director of the ICPC’s Planning, Research, and Statistics Department, the Commission’s intelligence-driven operations have successfully disrupted illicit financial flows and recovered significant public funds.
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The ICPC has strengthened ties with key partners, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and INTERPOL, to improve intelligence sharing and enforcement. The Commission is also growing its reliance on digital tools and advanced analytics for evidence gathering and case tracking.
However, Bello highlighted critical challenges impeding the Commission’s efforts, including high licensing fees for digital forensic tools that are constraining the Commission’s capacity to scale investigations.
The exit of Cellebrite’s forensic services from Nigeria has also created significant operational gaps in digital investigations. Furthermore, delays in Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) processes and stringent international requirements are hampering the retrieval of evidence in transnational corruption cases.
The IMF team, led by Mr. Jonathan Pampolina and Ms. Nene Ikechukwu of the Federal Ministry of Finance, explored the ICPC’s Corruption Risk Assessment methodology and broader legal reforms needed to bolster Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
The meeting underscored the urgency of adopting data-driven, collaborative approaches to tackle systemic corruption.
“We continue to strengthen ties with key partners, including the EFCC, NFIU, CCB, and INTERPOL, to improve intelligence sharing and enforcement,” Bello stated.
