The Independent Corrupt Practices and Commission (ICPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the British Home Office.
The pledge was made during a courtesy visit by a high-level delegation from the British Home Office International Operations Team to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation was received on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Oparoudu, who emphasised the commission’s dedication to fostering meaningful and strategic global partnerships in the fight against corruption and transnational crimes.
Mr. Oparoudu highlighted the ICPC’s growing capacity to support international investigations through its wide array of institutional tools and expertise.
He stressed that the commission remains equipped to provide advanced digital forensic support, a vital component in the prosecution of complex, cross-border criminal cases.
“Our digital forensic capabilities are critical in the extraction and analysis of electronic evidence from digital devices,” he noted.
“We are fully prepared to bring this strength into our collaborations with international partners such as the British Home Office, especially in the context of organised immigration crime.”
Read also:
- ICPC launches probe into N71.2 billion discrepancy in student loan disbursement
- ICPC chairman advocates for technology-driven transparency at national anti-corruption conference
- ICPC to convene stakeholders’ meeting on local government accountability
Leading the British delegation was Mr. Cora Oakley, the International Liaison Officer for the UK Home Office, who explained that the visit was aimed at updating the ICPC on the current priorities of the Organized Immigration Crime Unit (OICU).
The OICU is a joint initiative between Nigeria and the United Kingdom that brings together experienced investigators and prosecutors from both countries to tackle immigration-related crimes, which often involve sophisticated and far-reaching criminal syndicates.
Mr. Oakley highlighted the success of the OICU, pointing to several major investigations that have already resulted in key arrests and the disruption of criminal networks exploiting immigration systems in both countries.
He attributed much of this progress to effective collaboration with Nigerian agencies, particularly the ICPC.
“The partnership with the ICPC has been invaluable,” Oakley said.
“The support we’ve received in terms of intelligence sharing, investigative coordination, and on-the-ground operational assistance has significantly strengthened our efforts.”
