ICPC recovers ₦37.44bn, $2.35m in 2025, records 55.7% conviction rate

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered ₦37.44 billion and $2.353 million in 2025 through asset seizures and forfeitures, marking one of its highest annual recoveries to date.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja during the Commission’s end-of-year engagement, send-forth for retiring staff and annual merit awards ceremony, where he described 2025 as a pivotal year for the agency.

According to him, the Commission investigated 263 cases during the year, surpassing its target of 250, and filed 61 cases in court, recording a conviction rate of 55.74 per cent.

Dr Aliyu highlighted the conviction of a University of Calabar professor, Cyril Ndifon, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment for offences related to sexual harassment and cyberbullying, describing the judgment as a strong signal of ICPC’s resolve to confront abuse of office.

On corruption prevention, the ICPC assessed 344 Ministries, Departments and Agencies using its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, conducted 66 corruption-monitoring exercises and tracked 1,490 projects across the country.

Systems study and corruption risk assessments were also carried out in 12 MDAs to address institutional vulnerabilities.

In the area of public enlightenment, the Chairman said the Commission reached over 235,000 Nigerians through 644 sensitisation activities, generated 3.5 million digital engagements, established 86 anti-corruption clubs and vanguards, and trained 2,707 participants at the ICPC Academy.

Dr Aliyu added that the Commission expanded collaboration with stakeholders through 15 partnership initiatives, while civil society organisations carried out 57 complementary engagements.

He also announced that ICPC had, for the first time, secured the Cost-of-Living Adjustment allowance for its staff, describing the development as historic and a boost to staff welfare and institutional capacity.

While commending staff who received merit awards and honouring those retiring from service, the Chairman urged personnel to uphold integrity, professionalism and unity of purpose in the coming year, warning against complacency and misconduct.

In goodwill messages, Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Mr Victor Muruako, praised ICPC’s interventions at the local government level and pledged continued inter-agency collaboration.

Similarly, Executive Director of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, Ms Souad Osman-Aden, and officials of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity commended the Commission’s asset recovery efforts and transparency, noting that such actions strengthen public trust in governance.