Babafemi A. Badejo
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),
Members of both the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee and the ICPC,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
Today marks a very critical moment in our collective resolve to build a Nigeria defined not by the weight of corruption, but by the strength of its institutions and the integrity of its professionals in the legal sector.
We are gathered to formalize not one, but two landmark partnerships between the Nigerian Bar Association, through its Anti-Corruption Committee (NBAA-CC), and two critical pillars of our nation’s anti-corruption architecture: the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and its training arm, the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN).
The first Memorandum of Understanding, with the ICPC, establishes a robust framework for collaboration. It recognizes the inseparable, inverse relationship between the rule of law and corruption: when one thrives, the other diminishes. This MoU commits our institutions to joint action in promoting professional integrity within the legal profession, enhancing capacity building, driving public awareness, and advocating for sound policy reforms. It is a pact to align the NBA’s mandate to “Promote the Rule of Law” with the ICPC’s statutory powers to investigate and prosecute, prevent, and educate on the destructive effect of corruption.
The second MoU, with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, deepens this alliance by focusing on the foundational tools of change: education, training, and research. It provides a structured pathway for developing and delivering anti-corruption curricula, conducting joint research, and executing both paid and free certificate programs for lawyers and allied professionals. It is an agreement to build knowledge, shape minds, and instill ethical standards from the classroom to the courtroom.
Together, these agreements represent a comprehensive strategy, one that combines enforcement and prevention with education and cultural reshaping. They acknowledge that to eradicate corruption, we must not only focus on holding the corrupt accountable, but also seek to empower members of our society, especially those with integrity, with the knowledge, tools, and institutional support to act with integrity.
This visionary step would not have been possible without exemplary leadership.
The NBA President, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN’s foresight in establishing the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee sent a powerful message to the nation on the NBA’s dedication to the protection of the rule of law. Osigwe’s initiative reaffirms that the legal profession is not a bystander in the fight for accountability, but a primary stakeholder and a force for systemic change. We commend the NBA President’s commitment to ensuring the NBA lives its motto in action.
Honorable Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, whose resolute determination to confront the scourge of debilitating corruption in Nigeria is the driving force behind this collaboration. His openness to partnership reflects an understanding that the ICPC’s critical mission is strengthened by alliance with the profession that interprets, implements, and upholds the law. His zealous leadership is a testament to the fact that courage and collaboration are necessary twin engines of national renewal.
To the members of both teams, especially Prof. Tunde Babawale, the immediate Past Provost of ACAN, Mr. Clement Adebayo Obaniyi, former Acting Provost of ACAN, Dr. George Abang Ekpungu, the NBAA-CC Alternate Chairman and former EFCC Secretary, as well as Moses Oyedokun Adegboyega, Esq. who worked diligently on these documents, we say thank you. We also thank colleagues from far and near who came to be part of this epoch-making event. We appreciate and look forward to working with the ACAN Provost, Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim.
The import of this day for our nation is profound. This is more than a signing ceremony; it is a declaration that the guardians of the law and the fighters of corruption are now formally aligned in purpose, strategy, and resolve. It is a promise to the Nigerian people that we are building a united front one dedicated to nurturing a future where transparency, accountability, and the rule of law are the undeniable pillars of our society.
As we proceed to implement these Memoranda of Understanding, let us do so with a shared sense of duty and a renewed hope for the Nigeria we are determined to build together.
Thank you, and may this partnership be fruitful and impactful for the good of our beloved nation.
Prof. Babafemi A. Badejo,
Chairman NBAA-CC
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