List Of All Chairmen Of ICPC In Nigeria (2000-Present)
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) is a government agency in Nigeria created to fight corruption.
It was established on September 29, 2000, to investigate and prosecute corrupt practices in public service. The ICPC receives complaints from the public about corruption, examines public systems to reduce corruption, and educates people on the dangers of corrupt practices.
Its main purpose is to promote integrity and accountability in government. However, the ICPC operates under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000, which guides its activities and powers in fighting corruption in Nigeria.
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List Of All Chairmen Of ICPC In Nigeria From 2000 Till Date
| Dr. Rose Abang-Wushishi | March 2011 – August 2011 |
|---|---|
| Barrister Abdullahi Bako | August 2011 – November 2011 |
| Barrister Ekpo Una Owo Nta | November 2011 – June 2012 |
| Barrister Ekpo Una Owo Nta | June 2012 – January 2018 |
| Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye | January 2018 – Present |
Who Was The First ICPC Chairman In Nigeria?
The first Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Nigeria was Hon. Justice Mustapha Akanbi.
He was appointed on September 29, 2000, when the ICPC was created based on a recommendation by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Justice Akanbi was a highly respected judge who had previously served as the President of the Court of Appeal.
When he became the Chairman of the ICPC, the commission faced some early challenges, such as finding enough staff and setting up office space.
Despite these issues, the ICPC soon began investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, especially in the public sector. In the first three years, the ICPC received 942 petitions.
Out of these, about 400 cases were under investigation, and 60 cases were in court by August 2003. However, Justice Akanbi admitted that the ICPC did not secure any major convictions during its first four years.
One reason for this was that the commission was severely underfunded. Another reason was that it could not investigate corrupt activities that took place before the ICPC was established.
Even though it faced challenges, the ICPC, under Justice Akanbi’s leadership, prosecuted several high-profile Nigerians.
Some of these include Ghali Umar Na’Abba, who was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Fabian Osuji, the head of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education. Justice Akanbi led the ICPC until 2005.
READ ALSO: List Of Nigeria Inspector Generals Of Police (1964-Present)
Who Is The New Chairman Of The ICPC?
The new Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is Bolaji Olufunmileyi Owasanoye.
He is a notable Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist. Born in 1963, Owasanoye studied law at the University of Ife, completing his degree in 1984.
A year later, in 1985, he was called to the Nigerian Bar, and in 1987, he earned a master’s degree in law from the University of Lagos.
Owasanoye started his career in education as an assistant lecturer at the University of Lagos. In 1991, he joined the National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), where he later became a Professor of Law in 2001.
In 2015, he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC). Apart from his academic and government roles, Owasanoye has worked on improving Nigeria’s legal systems.
He played a big part in pushing for important laws like the Proceeds of Crime Bill and the Whistle-blower and Witness Protection Bill, which have both been passed by the Nigerian National Assembly.
He has also done consultancy work for popular international organizations like the World Bank and USAID. In 1997, Owasanoye co-founded the Human Development Initiative (HDI), a non-profit organization focused on promoting social justice and human rights.
In 2020, his outstanding contributions to law were recognized when he was awarded the prestigious award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
