Abubakar Siddiq Ibn Usman
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu (SAN), on Tuesday revealed that the commission has uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving a foreign national who opened a Nigerian bank account used to exploit unsuspecting Nigerian students.
Aliyu made the disclosure in Abuja at a stakeholders’ advocacy event focused on asset tracing, recovery, and management. According to him, the scheme involved Nigerian students paying into the account to obtain a questionable six-week degree.
“Within a few weeks, we were able to discover that a foreigner opened an account in Nigeria while Nigerian students were paying money into the account in order to obtain that six-week degree. And we were able to track the account,” he said.
He further explained that the ICPC secured a civil forfeiture order on the account and is working to ensure that the perpetrators, including those operating from outside Nigeria, are held accountable.
Aliyu said, “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.”
The ICPC boss also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling illicit financial flows and asset recovery beyond the African continent.
“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,” Aliyu stated.
He lamented the historical and ongoing exploitation of Africa, noting that while the continent is often blamed for corruption, it remains the primary victim.
Aliyu said, “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.”
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