Corruption Fight Should Begin in Schools, Not Courts — ICPC Chairman

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has called for a shift in Nigeria's anti-corruption strategy, stressing that the fight against corruption should begin in classrooms rather than courtrooms.

Aliyu made the remarks on Friday during the ICPC and Nigerian Law School Kano Zonal Workshop on Integrating Anti-Corruption Education into Nigerian Universities and the Nigerian Law School, where he argued that prevention through education is more effective than relying solely on investigations and prosecutions. 

According to the ICPC chairman, corruption continues to weaken institutions, undermine justice, slow national development and erode public trust, with ordinary Nigerians bearing the greatest consequences.

He maintained that while investigating and prosecuting offenders remain central to the commission's mandate, instilling ethical values and integrity in young people, particularly future legal practitioners, is essential to preventing corruption before it takes root.

"There is no more fertile ground for prevention than the classroom," Aliyu said, noting that universities and the Nigerian Law School play a critical role in shaping the ethical standards of future lawyers whose decisions influence governance, accountability and the administration of justice. 

He warned that the justice system is weakened whenever legal professionals compromise ethical principles and urged institutions of higher learning to make integrity and ethical conduct a core part of legal education rather than treating them as secondary issues.

Aliyu explained that the Kano workshop forms part of the commission's broader initiative to institutionalise anti-corruption education in legal training. He disclosed that the programme follows earlier engagements with deans of law faculties and the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, adding that a similar workshop would soon be held for stakeholders in the South-West in Lagos. 

The ICPC chairman clarified that the commission does not intend to impose a rigid curriculum but will work closely with legal educators to develop a framework that strengthens ethics and integrity while taking academic realities into account.

He assured stakeholders of the commission's commitment to providing the institutional support required to ensure the success of the initiative, expressing optimism that it could eventually be extended beyond legal education to other professions and the wider public sector.

Aliyu added that the true measure of the programme's success would not be the discussions held during the workshop but the ethical choices made by future lawyers throughout their careers. He urged participants to contribute towards building a legal education system that produces professionals committed to justice, accountability and national development rather than individuals who use their legal knowledge to frustrate justice.