Abuja: The Federal Government has urged African nations to establish stronger institutional collaborations aimed at combating illicit wealth and transnational corruption. Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, emphasized this need during a seminar in Abuja commemorating the 2026 African Union Anti-Corruption Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Fagbemi, represented by Mrs. Odegbaro Gladys, Director, Solicitors Department, Ministry of Justice, highlighted the importance of mutual legal assistance, intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and institutional cooperation among African countries. These measures are crucial to prevent criminals from finding safe havens in the region. The seminar, themed ‘Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa,’ was organized by the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), a coordinating forum of agencies with anti-corruption and accountability mandates.
Fagbemi noted that international cooperation is essential in the fight against corruption, as illicit financial flows, money laundering, and transnational organized crime transcend national borders. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and other relevant international instruments. The Federal Government is dedicated to working with other African nations to build robust regional institutions capable of addressing the evolving risks of corruption.
The minister further stated that Nigeria is implementing reforms to strengthen public institutions, improve transparency, enhance fiscal accountability, and reinforce the administration of justice. The Ministry of Justice is providing the necessary legal and policy frameworks to support these reforms and ensure justice is administered fairly and efficiently. Recovering and transparently managing proceeds of crime remain central to the country’s anti-corruption strategy, with ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with domestic institutions and international partners on asset tracing, confiscation, recovery, and repatriation.
Fagbemi emphasized that stolen public assets belong to the people and should be recovered and used transparently for projects that improve citizens’ welfare. He also highlighted the potential of Africa’s vast human and natural resources to deliver sustainable development if managed with integrity, accountability, and justice. Nigeria remains ready to collaborate with AU member states and international partners to build an Africa where integrity is rewarded, corruption is decisively confronted, and justice serves as the foundation for shared prosperity.
Dr. Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), stressed the need for stronger collaboration among governments, anti-corruption agencies, civil society, and the private sector to promote integrity and curb corruption across Africa. Aliyu advocated for collective action, stronger institutions, ethical leadership, youth engagement, and technology as critical components in addressing corruption and strengthening public trust in governance across the continent.
He stated that nurturing integrity from an early age is vital. In line with this approach, the ICPC actively engages youths through initiatives such as the National Youth Service Corps Anti-Corruption Lectures, Integrity Club programs in secondary schools, and collaborations with the Nigerian Law School and universities. These initiatives aim to integrate anti-corruption education into legal training and cultivate a new generation of ethical leaders committed to accountability and good governance.