The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has opened a new front in the fight against graft, engaging Attorneys-General from six North-East states in a push to strengthen institutional integrity and deepen regional cooperation.
At a one-day roundtable in Maiduguri on Monday, themed “Institutional Integrity and Regional Cooperation: The Role of Attorneys-General in Advancing a Corruption-Free North East”, top legal officers from Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba States joined ICPC commissioners and lawmakers to chart fresh strategies against corruption.
Delivering the keynote, Professor Auwal Yadudu of Bayero University, Kano, praised the initiative, saying stronger systems and accountability would enhance governance in the troubled region.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), said the engagement was part of a nationwide effort to encourage collaboration between federal and state institutions.
“Punishment alone cannot defeat corruption — we must strengthen systems, recover stolen assets, support victims, and above all work together,” he said, warning that corruption erodes development and fuels insecurity.
Referencing the Supreme Court ruling in AG Ondo State v. AG Federation, Aliyu underscored the need for joint federal–state action, commending the cooperation of the region’s Attorneys-General and acknowledging support from the National Assembly.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, described the timing as crucial. “Preventive approaches, monitoring, and joint action will help close loopholes and build public trust in institutions,” he said.
All six Attorneys-General of the North-East attended the session, alongside ICPC directors and other stakeholders. A communiqué outlining key resolutions is expected after deliberations.
