*ICPC Chairman Tasks Lawyers OnIFrontline Role in Anti-Corruption Battle
THE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has claimed that politicians now use Internet fraudsters to steal money and transfer same into offshore accounts.
EFCC investigations, Olukoyede said, had uncovered how Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) collaborate with fraudsters to open cryptocurrency wallets and transfer stolen funds abroad to purchase luxury items, such as cars and houses, adding these illicit activities highlight systemic corruption within Nigeria’s political and governance systems.
He stated: “When they (politically exposed persons) steal money in billions, they give it to these boys, they open crypto wallets and from there, the money goes abroad.
“Most of these politically exposed persons identify these boys, lodge them in hotels and the boys open accounts for them to take the money abroad.”
He expressed worry over the increasing criminal activities of fraudsters, saying their activities have expanded beyond cybercrime to include banditry, kidnapping and ritual killings, explaining that when their scams are unsuccessful, they often turn to violent crimes, which further jeopardises the safety and security of Nigerians.
“The most dangerous aspect of it is not just about yahoo-yahoo; some of these guys are into banditry and kidnapping. When they don’t see people to scam on time, they resort to these vices,” he noted.
The anti-corruption czar said in addition to their criminal exploits, the activities of these fraudsters has brought Nigeria national shame and tarnished the country’s reputation on the global stage, stating: “If you travel abroad with your green passport and stand in the queue among so many people, you will discover that by the time you present the passport, the people (Immigration officers) will look at you with some reservation.
“That is, if they don’t take you aside to carry out some special scrutiny. That is a national shame that some young Nigerians (yahoo-yahoo boys) have caused for us.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has urged Nigerian lawyers to recommit to ethical standards and take a proactive role in the country’s fight against corruption.
Aliyu made the call in a delivering a goodwill message at this year’s Annual Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, with the theme, ‘Reimagining the Practice of Law: Ethics, Innovation and the Future of Legal Services,’ brought together some of the most influential voices in Nigeria’s legal community to reflect on the evolving landscape of the profession.
In a statement signed by ICPC’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, Aliyu expressed concern over what he described as an “ethical crisis” within the legal profession, citing troubling trends, including professional misconduct, deliberate delay tactics in court and misuse of legal procedures to obstruct anti-corruption cases.
He said: “Lawyers are not just advocates; they are the gatekeepers of justice. Sadly, some have chosen to become facilitators in obstructing justice. The ICPC sees this and calls for a collective recommitment to integrity.”
Aliyu condemned the practice of filing suits challening the Supreme Court’s decision on the ICPC’s investigative powers, describing such actions as damaging to the legal profession’s credibility and a hindrance to justice.
While acknowledging the transformative impact of legal technology, he also warned of potential ethical pitfalls in its unregulated use, stressing that innovation in legal services must be grounded in fairness, confidentiality, and justice.
Aliyu urged the legal community to support whistleblowers, whom he referred to as “civic heroes,” in the battle against corruption.
He called for enhanced legal protections for whistleblowers and encouraged lawyers to actively defend their rights.
On reforms in legal education, Aliyu stressed the need to integrate ethics, digital literacy and public interest law into law school curricula, saying the Commission was working with stakeholders to introduce anti-corruption modules in the Nigerian Law School and university law faculties.
He challenged lawyers to rise above client briefs and embrace a broader role in nation-building, adding: “As we reimagine the future of law, let us also reimagine the lawyer, not just as a professional, but as a patriot.
“Together, we can restore dignity to the practice of law and reaffirm its place in the fight against corruption and injustice.”
