By Najib Lawan Dambazau
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kano State, Hon. Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, ACArb, has called for a stronger preventive approach to the fight against corruption, stressing the need to equip future lawyers, public servants and leaders with the knowledge, skills and ethical values required to promote integrity, accountability and good governance.
Maude made the call yesterday at a high-level roundtable discussion on “Strengthening Collaboration for Corruption Prevention,” held at Rockview Hotel, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The meeting brought together the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede; Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN; the leadership of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), as well as Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice from the 36 states of the federation.
A major outcome of the meeting was the unanimous decision to introduce specialised anti-corruption courses, particularly in Faculties of Law, to deepen students’ understanding of the causes, consequences and legal dimensions of corruption, as well as practical approaches to its prevention, detection and prosecution.
The participants agreed that strengthening anti-corruption education at the academic level would help produce a new generation of lawyers, public servants and leaders equipped to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
Speaking on the significance of the decision, Maude said the fight against corruption must go beyond enforcement, investigation and prosecution to embrace prevention, education and institutional strengthening.
He noted that if Nigeria was to raise a generation of professionals and leaders committed to integrity, accountability and justice, the process must begin in the classroom.
According to him, specialised anti-corruption education would give future members of the legal profession a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of corruption while equipping them with practical knowledge to contribute effectively to its prevention, detection and prosecution.
The Attorney-General said the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in Kano State remained committed to strengthening institutions, promoting accountability, upholding the rule of law and advancing reforms aimed at improving the justice system and promoting good governance.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen public institutions, promote transparency and accountability, and enhance public confidence in the justice system.
Maude further stressed that the fight against corruption was not the responsibility of anti-corruption agencies alone, but required a coordinated and sustained effort involving government institutions, the legal profession, academia, the judiciary, civil society organisations and citizens.
He said the outcome of the Abuja roundtable underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in developing sustainable strategies that would address corruption not only after it occurs, but also by preventing the conditions that allow corrupt practices to thrive.
The Attorney-General expressed optimism that through prevention, education, collaboration and strong institutions, Nigeria could raise a new generation of professionals and leaders committed to integrity and accountability, while building a society where integrity is not merely taught as a principle but practised as a way of life.
