ICPC Uncovers Billions in Stolen Funds, Recovers Assets in Northern Nigeria

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed fresh successes in its anti-corruption campaign, with the recovery of billions of naira, foreign currency, and seized properties in Northern Nigeria. The Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed these details in Kano during a media dialogue with journalists from the North-West and North-East zones. He explained that the recoveries were achieved through the ICPC’s ongoing tracking of public projects and intensified asset-recovery operations. According to him, between May 2023 and July 2025, the ICPC tracked 1,440 capital projects across the country valued at over ₦271 billion. From this effort, the Commission recovered about ₦7.269 billion in the North-West and ₦43.335 million in the North-East. Additionally, the ICPC retrieved $1.066 million in foreign currency and confiscated several assets, including 14 buildings, 25 plots of land, and three farmlands linked to corrupt enrichment. Dr. Aliyu stressed that corruption in public projects has long deprived many communities of basic infrastructure. He said the Commission’s interventions are not just about recovering money, but also about restoring abandoned projects so that Nigerians can finally benefit from funds that were originally allocated for their welfare. “The essence of our project-tracking initiative is to ensure that funds meant for communities are used for their intended purpose. Where resources have been diverted, we make sure they are brought back for the people,” he said. He further highlighted the crucial role of the media in strengthening transparency and accountability, calling on journalists to work closely with the ICPC in exposing corruption. He noted that effective collaboration with the press would help ensure that public projects are properly monitored from start to finish. Dr. Aliyu also used the occasion to call on the National Assembly to pass the much-anticipated whistleblower protection bill, stressing that safeguarding informants is necessary to encourage more Nigerians to provide credible information on corruption cases without fear of reprisals. “The protection of whistleblowers is a cornerstone of modern anti-corruption strategies. Citizens must feel safe to report without threats to their lives or livelihoods,” he added. The media dialogue, attended by journalists, ICPC officials, and other stakeholders, was part of the Commission’s broader outreach to engage the public in the fight against corruption. Participants at the forum underscored the need for stronger collaboration between journalists and the anti-graft agency, while also urging faster prosecution of corruption-related cases to build trust and confidence in the system. The Kano engagement reflects ICPC’s growing push to involve civil society, the media, and local communities in ensuring that recovered funds and projects deliver tangible impact where they are most needed.