Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership in the fight against illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Africa, with the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, calling for strategic diplomacy and stronger international cooperation to tackle the menace.
Dr. Aliyu made the call at the inaugural meeting of the African Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Forum (AARP-Forum), held recently in Nairobi, Kenya. The ICPC Chairman, who also chairs the Forum’s Interim Steering Committee, emphasized the need for African nations to unite and engage the global North with a common voice in the pursuit of asset recovery and financial justice.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Aliyu traced the continent’s long history of economic exploitation—from the transatlantic slave trade to colonialism and now the persistent challenge of IFFs. He argued that only through collective action, robust legal frameworks, and greater accountability from international financial institutions can African countries effectively address these issues.
One of the key challenges, according to Dr. Aliyu, is the lack of cooperation from some countries in the global North in matters of Mutual Legal Assistance, which he said continues to impede cross-border asset recovery. He also expressed concern over the limited participation of North African countries in the Forum, describing it as a gap that weakens the continent’s collective bargaining power on policy and legal reforms.
Dr. Aliyu also highlighted the problem of “re-looting” recovered assets due to weak governance and poor accountability structures in some African nations, warning that such practices undermine public trust and hinder further recovery efforts.
“To overcome these challenges, we must implement robust oversight mechanisms that ensure transparency and accountability in the management of recovered assets,” he said. “The success of this forum depends on the unwavering commitment of all stakeholders to confront these issues head-on.”
He described the AARP-Forum as a landmark development in Africa’s anti-corruption drive, noting that it creates a collaborative platform for practitioners across the continent to exchange ideas, coordinate actions, and develop best practices for stemming illicit financial flows.
“This is a new era of collaboration,” Dr. Aliyu said. “Through this forum, African countries are not only aligning efforts but also speaking with one voice on asset recovery matters.”
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The Nairobi meeting concluded with a strong mandate to operationalise the AARP-Forum. Among the key next steps are regional capacity-building workshops, the development of a real-time digital asset tracing platform, and diplomatic engagements with international institutions, including the United Nations, to advocate for fairer recovery treaties.
The Forum also committed to ensuring that recovered assets are transparently tracked, audited, and reinvested into priority development sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
For Nigeria and the ICPC, the AARP-Forum marks a milestone in the country’s transition from a national anti-corruption agency to a continental leader in financial justice. Under Dr. Aliyu’s leadership, the Commission has played a central role in shaping Africa’s asset recovery strategy.
“This Forum is more than an opportunity — it is a call to action,” Dr. Aliyu said in his closing remarks. “A chance for Africa to reclaim its resources, assert its sovereignty, and lead the global struggle against corruption and financial crime. The road ahead is undeniably difficult, but the stakes are too high for Africa to waver. Together, we can — and we must — reclaim our future.”
