ICPC to fight corruption with AI, recovers N4bn in 24hrs

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared its readiness to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fight corruption in Nigeria.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), made the declaration on the sideline of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC) Members Hybrid Interactive Forum in Abuja on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Aliyu said the ICPC would deploy technological measures, especially AI, to unravel corrupt practices easily.

The ICPC boss disclosed that within the last 24 hours, the commission recovered about N4 billion stolen by public officeholders.

He said: “Today (Thursday), I want to underscore the potential of technological solutions in promoting accountability and good governance.

“Technology can work wonders because it is not biased like humans. It can help us tackle challenges if we use it properly and effectively.

“This technology, as I have mentioned, has the capability to address numerous issues.

“We know there are digital platforms that sometimes, unfortunately, contribute to corruption

“However, I can tell you that in the last 24 hours, we have been able to recover N4 billion of public funds, which were diverted into private accounts.”

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Aliyu added: “It is alarming to see how much money is being misappropriated, and some individuals have billions of naira in their possession for personal gain.

“It is a shocking reality that people are hoarding public funds, instead of using them for the benefit of the nation.

“As a commission, we are utilising technology and management systems to restore confidence in the fight against corruption.

“We are committed to ensuring transparency in this endeavour.”

The ICPC boss further stated that there were systemic flaws in the country, especially on public spending.

He said there was a need to invest in technology that could help minimise the challenges of corruption, particularly in public procurement.

Aliyu said: “By implementing tech-driven processes, we can reduce practices like contract inflation.

“Using technologies like blockchain can help eliminate manipulation and ensure the integrity of public procurement.

“Data analytics are also crucial. The data we rely on is often outdated or inaccurate, which causes inefficiency.

“By embracing AI, we can easily convert certain processes to be more transparent and effective.”

The Star