The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu (SAN), has called for a new approach to Nigeria’s fight against corruption, saying the country cannot win the battle through arrests and prosecutions alone.
According to him, the most effective way to tackle corruption is to prevent it from taking root by teaching integrity, accountability and ethical values in schools, especially in universities and the Nigerian Law School, where future professionals are trained.
Aliyu made the remarks on Friday while speaking at the ICPC and Nigerian Law School Kano Zonal Workshop on Integrating Anti-Corruption Education into Nigerian Universities and the Nigerian Law School.
The workshop brought together legal educators, academics and other stakeholders to discuss ways of making anti-corruption education a core part of legal training in Nigeria.
Addressing participants, the ICPC chairman said corruption continues to inflict enormous damage on the country by weakening institutions, slowing economic growth, undermining justice and reducing public confidence in government.
He noted that while corruption is often discussed in terms of stolen public funds and abuse of office, ordinary Nigerians are the ones who bear the greatest burden through poor public services, weak institutions and limited development.
“The public pays for corruption,” he said.
According to Aliyu, law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem because prosecution deals only with offences that have already been committed.
He argued that preventing corruption before it occurs is a more sustainable strategy.
While acknowledging that investigation and prosecution remain important parts of the commission’s mandate, he stressed that prevention should receive equal attention.
“There is no more fertile ground for prevention than the classroom,” he said.
Aliyu explained that universities are the ideal place to shape the values of future professionals before they enter public service, private organisations or the legal profession.
He said students who develop strong ethical values during their education are more likely to resist corruption when they begin their careers.
The ICPC chairman placed particular emphasis on legal education, noting that lawyers occupy critical positions within the justice system and often influence governance, public administration and the protection of the rule of law.
According to him, the decisions lawyers make throughout their careers can either strengthen or weaken Nigeria’s institutions.
He warned that the justice system suffers whenever legal practitioners abandon ethical standards in pursuit of personal gain.
For this reason, he urged universities and the Nigerian Law School to ensure that integrity and professional ethics become central parts of legal education rather than subjects treated as secondary issues.
Aliyu explained that the Kano workshop forms part of the commission’s broader plan to institutionalise anti-corruption education across legal training institutions in Nigeria.
He recalled that the commission had earlier held a similar engagement with deans of law faculties and officials of the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.
According to him, another workshop will be organised in Lagos for stakeholders from the South-West geopolitical zone as part of efforts to expand the initiative nationwide.
The ICPC chairman assured participants that the commission was not seeking to impose a rigid curriculum on universities.
Instead, he said the commission intends to work closely with legal educators and academic institutions to develop a practical framework that fits existing academic programmes while strengthening ethical standards.
“The Commission will support and facilitate this process. We are committed to providing the institutional support required because we believe the impact of this initiative can extend beyond legal education to other professions and eventually across the public sector,” he said.
Aliyu noted that the success of the programme would not be measured by the number of workshops held or policy documents produced.
Rather, he said its true impact would be reflected in the ethical decisions made by lawyers years after they graduate.
To illustrate his point, he asked participants to imagine a young lawyer who, after leaving school, is confronted with an opportunity to compromise justice in exchange for personal benefit.
According to him, the decision that lawyer eventually makes will depend largely on the values and ethical principles learned during legal training.
“The decision that the lawyer makes will be influenced by the values we choose to teach today,” he said.
Aliyu also expressed concern over growing public criticism of the legal profession.
He observed that Nigerians increasingly expect lawyers not only to possess sound legal knowledge but also to demonstrate honesty, integrity and accountability in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.
He challenged legal educators to reflect on the kind of professionals the country’s institutions are producing.
According to him, legal education should produce lawyers who strengthen democracy, uphold justice and contribute to national development rather than individuals who use their legal knowledge to frustrate justice or protect corrupt practices.
The ICPC chairman further urged parents, teachers and members of the legal profession to lead by example by demonstrating integrity in their daily lives.
He argued that young people are more likely to embrace ethical values when they consistently see those values reflected in the conduct of adults around them.
Aliyu also thanked participants, facilitators and resource persons for contributing to what he described as an important national discussion on strengthening integrity in legal education.
He paid special tribute to Professor Isa Chiroma for his contributions to the initiative and his commitment to improving legal education in Nigeria.
Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to supporting reforms in universities and the Nigerian Law School, Aliyu said the fight against corruption requires collective action from government institutions, educational establishments, legal professionals, parents and the wider society.
“I hope that one day we will all look back with pride and know that we made a difference in the history of this country,” he said.
The ICPC, established in 2000, is one of Nigeria’s major anti-corruption agencies. In addition to investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offences, the commission is also mandated to prevent corruption through public enlightenment, institutional reforms and integrity education.
In recent years, the commission has expanded its focus on preventive measures, arguing that promoting ethical values among young people and strengthening institutional systems are essential to reducing corruption in the long term.
The latest initiative reflects a growing recognition that building a culture of integrity from the classroom may be one of the most effective ways of producing future professionals committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.