By Ayo Kehinde
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving a foreign national, who opened a Nigerian bank account to defraud local students seeking a dubious short-term academic certifications abroad.
The Chairman of the Commission, Musa Adamu Aliyu, confirmed that the suspicious bank account, operated by a foreign national, was discovered within weeks of investigation. Nigerian students were making payments into it in pursuit of the fraudulent academic certificates.
“Within some weeks, we were able to discover that a foreigner opened an account in Nigeria while Nigerian students are paying money into the account in order to obtain that six-week degree. And we were able to track the account. We obtained a civil forfeiture order. We have been trying to put in much effort to ensure that the culprits are brought to book, most especially those that are beyond our shores”, he said.
Aliyu emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration both within Nigeria and across borders to effectively combat corruption and ensure that proceeds of crime are not enjoyed by perpetrators. He also highlighted Africa’s historical and ongoing struggles with illicit financial flows.
“We have been making efforts to see how we can come together in order to ensure that we recover assets beyond the African region. Because, as we know, Africa has been a victim of this issue of illicit financial loss. And also, if you could recall, we remember that since the time of slavery, Africa has been losing a lot of resources. We know where these properties are going, but they keep on telling us that you have a challenge of corruption.
“But the issue is the victim is being blamed. We are victims of corruption, but they keep on blaming us. That is why at the regional level, we are now trying to see how we can work together to ensure that we recover, trace, recover and repatriate the property back to our own continent”, he said.
The ICPC boss spoke on Tuesday, during a high-level stakeholders’ advocacy forum focused on asset tracing, recovery, and management. The event, held in Abuja, was organised by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) with the support of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
The Executive Director of CeFTPI, Umar Yakubu, said the event convened a diverse group of stakeholders from anti-corruption agencies, law enforcement bodies, the judiciary, civil society organisations, and international development partners.
