The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has asserted that fight against corruption remains a cornerstone of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s agenda, even as he assured of his ministry’s unwavering support for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The AGF said these on Wednesday in Abuja in his goodwill message at the launch of ICPC’s Strategic Action Plan for 2024-2028.
Fagbemi declared that corruption had not only eaten away at every fabric of the country but also undermined trust, weakened institutions, and hampered Nigeria’s progress.
According to the minister, “The fight against corruption remains a cornerstone of this administration’s agenda, as we recognise that corruption is cancer that eats away the very fabrics of our society.
“It undermines trust, weakens institutions and hamper our progress as a nation.”
He said in view of the havoc of the menace of corruption, the work of ICPC was of paramount importance not only in ensuring that corrupt practices were identified and prosecuted but also in fostering a culture of integrity and accountability across all sectors.
The AGF said the ICPC Strategic Action Plan was “a significant milestone in our collective efforts to combat corruption and safeguard the integrity of our public institutions”, adding that the launch of the plan was both timely and necessary.
According to Fagbemi, the plan represented a clear roadmap for the anti-graft agency to strengthen its operations, enhance transparency, and deepen collaboration with stakeholders at all levels of government and the private sector.
He then assured ICPC of his ministry’s support in providing the necessary legal framework, resources, and guidance with a view to ensuring that the objectives of the plan are fully realised.
Speaking earlier, ICPC chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu SAN, informed that the action plan was designed to help the commission assess its current position, establish purposes and set priorities.
He informed that ICPC had over the years made significant progress in the discharge of its mandate, adding that the commission was embarking on ICT reforms that would digitalise its operations and enable more efficient investigations, case management, and internal processes.
According to the chairman, “this transformation will position the commission as a leader in leveraging technology to contact corruption, keeping us one step ahead of criminal activities in the digital age.”
