The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, has urged lawmakers to amend Nigeria’s constitution to set strict timelines for prosecuting corruption cases, particularly those involving politicians and other influential figures.
Aliyu, who made the call on Saturday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, warned that the absence of clear deadlines allows corruption trials to drag on for years, weakening the fight against graft.
“If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us,” he said, stressing the urgency of reform. “Corruption cases should not be open-ended. Some take 10, 12, even 15 years, long after the tenure of the ICPC chairman has ended.”
He suggested the introduction of special courts and constitutionally backed time frames similar to election petitions, which must be concluded within 180 days.
According to him, such measures would prevent prolonged litigation and ensure accountability.
Beyond corruption trials, Aliyu also raised concerns about the lingering challenges in implementing the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, citing political interference as a major obstacle.
He further described state independent electoral commissions as a stumbling block to credible democracy.
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“Every state, when you look at it, the ruling party wins all the elections. We need an independent and transparent umpire at the state level if we are serious about democracy,” he said.
On the progress of the anti-corruption campaign, the ICPC boss noted that Nigerians are increasingly refusing to pay bribes and are more willing to report corrupt practices.
Citing the 2024 corruption survey conducted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in collaboration with Nigerian agencies, Aliyu said 70% of citizens who were asked for bribes between 2019 and 2023 declined to pay.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s slight improvement in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, moving from 145th to 140th place, as evidence of gradual progress.
“People may say it’s not much, but it is still progress. Nigerians are now more confident in reporting corruption, and that’s a positive step,” Aliyu concluded.