Enforcement of corruption laws could land most Nigerians in jail — ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned that a strict enforcement of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws could see the majority of citizens imprisoned, highlighting the pervasive nature of corruption in the country.

Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Kaduna State, Sakaba Ishaku, issued the warning on Wednesday during a capacity-building workshop on local government accountability organised by the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Kaduna.

The event was themed “Accountability in Local Government: A Springboard for National Development.”

Describing corruption as “endemic and deeply entrenched across all levels of governance and society,” Ishaku said weak institutions, lack of accountability, and socio-economic factors have fueled widespread corrupt practices.

He noted: “If the laws were to be applied, about 80 per cent of the people you see walking freely on the streets would be in jail.”

Ishaku further added that even wealth acquired through inheritance or employment often has questionable origins, emphasizing that no significant fortune is amassed without some element of criminality.

The ICPC commissioner lamented that many Nigerians resist anti-corruption campaigns because corruption benefits certain individuals.

He also criticized existing penalties, arguing that current sanctions are inadequate.

“Where someone steals N2 billion and spends just five years in prison, it is merely a slap on the wrist,” he said, calling for a review of anti-corruption laws to make them stronger and more deterrent.

Supporting the ICPC’s concerns, Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sadiq Mamman Legas, emphasized that community behaviour also undermines development and must be addressed to strengthen accountability.