N700bn paid as bribe in 2023 — ICPC Chairman says

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupts Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu on Thursday in Zaria, Kaduna State, revealed that the sum of N700 billion was paid as bribe in Nigeria.

He said, an estimated 87 million bribe were taken before it arrived at that figure, adding that bribe was frequent in rural areas compared to urban areas.

This development, Aliyu said, made corruption to be one of the most significant impediments to Nigeria’s development, as it erodes trust in public institutions, undermines the rule of law, and stifles economic growth.

In his keynote address at the ongoing International Law Conference which was organized by the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello Univesity Zaria, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), submitted that corruption as it were in Nigeria constitutes a social issue.

Speaking on title: “Law and Contemporary Societal Issues: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities,” the ICPC Chairman pointed out that corruption a social issue also constitute a legal issue which requires comprehensive and sustained approach.

According to a recent survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, corruption ranked fourth among the most critical problems affecting the country in 2023, after cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.

Aliyu revealed that in 2023, an estimated 87 million bribes amounting to N700 billion were paid and that the frequency of bribes is higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

“Despite these challenges, we are making progress. The rate of citizens reporting bribe payments to official authorities increased from 3.6 per cent in 2019 to 8.6 per cent in 2023.

This is a testament to the growing awareness and willingness of Nigerians to fight corruption,” he further said.

The ICPC chair stressed that abuse of office also remained a form of corrupt practice common in many sectors of the Nigerian public service, saying that sexual harassment is a significant issue in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with studies indicating a high prevalence among female students.

He said that according to the 2018 World Bank survey, approximately 70 per cent of female graduates from these institutions reported experiencing sexual harassment by classmates or instructors.

Aliyu described human rights and social justice as the cornerstones of a fair society, ensuring dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.

“Corruption undermines these rights, breeding inequality and oppression. The ICPC is committed to upholding human rights and promoting social justice by combating corruption and ensuring access to essential services,” he said.

The ICPC boss, who also spoke on digital transformation and cybersecurity, urged that the judiciary needs continuous education and training to effectively adjudicate cyber-related cases such as online fraud, sexual extortion, cybersquatting, and unlawful interception of communications.

Aliyu concluded that tackling corruption, human rights, digital threats, and environmental issues presented major challenges and exciting opportunities and that these hurdles could be overcome by uniting efforts, embracing innovative technologies, and championing justice.