Chiemelie Ezeobi The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Whistleblower Protection Bill, warning that the fight against corruption will remain weak without legal safeguards for those who expose wrongdoing. ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), made the appeal yesterday during a breakfast meeting with editors and media executives in Lagos. He stressed that fear of retaliation prevents many potential whistleblowers from coming forward, allowing corruption to flourish. “A strong whistleblower protection framework is necessary to ensure the safety of those who expose corruption. This law will not only shield informants but also strengthen the anti-corruption fight by encouraging the free flow of credible intelligence,” he said. Aliyu also called on the media to take a more active role in exposing corruption, emphasising that journalists are critical allies in holding public officials accountable. He recalled a case where a journalist’s investigative report provided the ICPC with a major lead, demonstrating the power of media scrutiny in uncovering financial crimes. He reiterated the commission’s commitment to tracking and monitoring government-funded projects to prevent contract fraud and the abandonment of infrastructure developments after funds have been allocated. Addressing concerns about financial institutions enabling corrupt practices, Aliyu disclosed that the ICPC was investigating several bank executives suspected of aiding corrupt individuals in laundering stolen funds. However, he said the commission had opted not to publicise these cases to avoid destabilising the financial sector. “We are focusing on managing directors and senior officials who are helping corrupt individuals siphon money out of the country. However, we are handling this discreetly to prevent panic and instability in the financial system,” he said. Aliyu also highlighted the challenge of recovering looted assets hidden in foreign jurisdictions. While tracing stolen funds has improved, he said legal barriers in many countries make retrieval difficult and costly. However, he noted that African nations are working together to develop more effective strategies for recovering illicit wealth stashed abroad. The ICPC chairman further addressed efforts to tackle corruption at the local government level, where mismanagement, embezzlement, and inflated contracts have severely hindered development. He described the ICPC’s newly launched anti-corruption programme for local councils as a crucial step in promoting transparency and accountability at the grassroots level. In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, urged the ICPC to focus more on corruption within the judiciary, calling it a major obstacle to justice. He criticised the trend of judges issuing controversial rulings and lawyers exploiting legal loopholes to stall corruption trials, saying these practices weaken the fight against graft. Aliyu reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to transparency and international cooperation, highlighting recent achievements on the global stage. He noted that in September 2024, Nigeria secured a seat on the Steering Committee of the GlobE Network in Beijing, while in November, he was elected interim Chair of the African Assets Recovery Practitioners Forum in Arusha, Tanzania. “Corruption thrives in silence, but the media has the power to break that silence. The more Nigerians are informed about the fight against corruption, the stronger our collective resolve becomes,” he said.