The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for the institutionalisation of anti-corruption education in Nigeria’s legal training system.
Aliyu said legal education must produce lawyers with integrity and not just legal experts.
He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the ICPC/Nigerian Law School workshop for Deans of Faculties of Law on the teaching of anti-corruption in Nigerian universities and the Nigerian Law School.
The workshop, themed “Institutionalising Anti-Corruption Education in Nigeria Legal Training,” brought together stakeholders in legal education to discuss the integration of anti-corruption studies into legal training.
According to the ICPC chairman, corruption continues to weaken public institutions, erode public trust and distort economic growth in the country.
He said tackling corruption requires preventive, educational and value-driven approaches in addition to investigation and prosecution.
“The legal profession occupies a central position in the administration of justice and the sustenance of the rule of law,” Aliyu said.
He stressed the need to instill ethical values early in legal training, adding that lawyers must be intellectually competent and ethically grounded.
Aliyu explained that the workshop aligned with the commission’s mandate on prevention and public education under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
He added that the engagement was aimed at examining curriculum content, delivery models and lecturer training methodologies for anti-corruption studies in legal institutions.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, challenged legal scholars and deans of law faculties to take a more active role in addressing corruption and restoring ethical values in society.
Represented by former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, the minister described corruption as a major factor behind Nigeria’s institutional and developmental challenges.
He called for reforms in the education sector and urged academics to promote civic responsibility, national history and community values.
Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Emeka Ngige, described the workshop as timely and necessary.
Ngige said the Nigerian Law School had continued to integrate ethical content across its modules to instill character, integrity and accountability in aspiring lawyers.
According to him, introducing anti-corruption studies into the curriculum of the Law School would help nurture future legal practitioners with strong moral values.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, represented by L.M. Farouk, also described universities as critical institutions for shaping ethical values and responsible citizenship.
The event featured paper presentations by Muhammad Tabiu, Joy Ezeilo and Adedeji Adekunle.
