ICPC Chairman makes history, leads landmark corruption case in court
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has become the first head of a Nigerian anti-graft agency to personally lead a prosecution in court.
Dr. Aliyu’s historic appearance took place on Thursday at the High Court in Kano, where he represented the ICPC in a case involving allegations of fund misappropriation by the Kano State government through its 44 local government caretaker chairmen.
This milestone follows Dr. Aliyu’s earlier pledge during his inaugural press briefing in Abuja to take an active role in prosecuting key cases. “I will lead by example,” he declared at the briefing. “By the grace of God, I intend to personally appear in ICPC cases in court. To the best of my knowledge, no previous ICPC chairman has done this, but I will be the first.”
Dr. Aliyu’s personal involvement in the prosecution underscores his commitment to the fight against corruption. “This case is significant, and we must show that no one is above the law,” he said. The case revolves around accusations of fraudulent procurement practices within the Kano State government, specifically related to the purchase of drugs, and has drawn widespread public attention.
The defendants, including the state’s commissioner for local government and deputy governor, had previously secured a court order halting ICPC’s investigations and summonses.
However, Dr. Aliyu challenged the legal standing of the caretaker chairmen, citing a Supreme Court ruling that declared such appointments unconstitutional unless democratically elected. “These individuals lack the legal standing to challenge the Commission,” Dr. Aliyu argued in court. “They are holding positions the apex court has ruled to be illegal.”
The defense, led by Shamsudeen Ubale Jibril, counsel for the Ministry of Local Government, ALGON, and the 44 caretaker chairmen, claimed that the ICPC had violated a previous court injunction and accused the Commission of engaging in “forum shopping” by involving multiple agencies in the investigation.
Despite these legal challenges, Dr. Aliyu remains resolute in his mission to combat corruption. “I am here as both a lawyer and the Chairman of the ICPC to ensure that the law is upheld. We cannot allow anyone to misuse the legal system to evade accountability for their actions,” he stated firmly.
Meanwhile, the ICPC has invited the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly to submit relevant documents concerning the alleged illegal extension of the caretaker chairmen’s tenure, further intensifying the investigation.
Dr. Aliyu’s groundbreaking involvement in the case signals a new era for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, emphasizing accountability and transparency at the highest levels of governance.
