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ICPC: 80% of Nigerians Would Be Jailed If Anti-Corruption Laws Were Fully Enforced

Published

1 month ago

December 11, 2025

ICPC: 80% of Nigerians Would Be Jailed If Anti-Corruption Laws Were Fully Enforced

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria’s corruption crisis is so severe that strict enforcement of existing anti-graft laws could result in 80 percent of citizens landing in jail.

This alarming revelation was made by the ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Kaduna State, Sakaba Ishaku, during a capacity-building workshop on local government accountability organised by the Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Speaking on the theme “Accountability in Local Government: A Springboard for National Development,” Ishaku described corruption in Nigeria as endemic and deeply rooted across all sectors, fuelled by weak institutions, poor accountability systems and entrenched socio-economic challenges.

According to him, if anti-corruption laws were enforced to the letter, the majority of Nigerians “walking the streets freely” would be imprisoned. He stressed that massive wealth accumulation in the country is rarely free of criminality, noting that even inherited wealth often has questionable origins.

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Ishaku lamented that many citizens resist anti-corruption reforms because corrupt practices offer personal benefits. He criticised local government chairmen who complete their tenures without any visible achievements, questioning their suitability for leadership positions.

The commissioner also called for tougher penalties for corruption, arguing that current punishments are too lenient to deter offenders. “Where someone steals N2 billion and gets just five years in prison, that is a slap on the wrist,” he said, urging a review of existing laws to enhance their deterrent effect.

He encouraged Kaduna State to adopt compulsory project monitoring mechanisms similar to the ICPC’s Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative, which has returned many absentee contractors to site.

In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sadiq Mamman Legas, echoed the concerns, blaming both leadership failures and negative public attitudes for stalled development. He noted that Kaduna, despite being a major economic hub in Northern Nigeria, continues to struggle due to vandalism and poor civic responsibility.

Legas revealed that the ministry saved “over N8–9 billion” through rural electrification repairs in Zonkwa, Makarfi, Ikara, Kudan and Soba, only for residents to vandalise the newly restored infrastructure. He said development cannot thrive where communities destroy government investments.

Both officials called for stronger collaboration, improved public enlightenment and deeper community participation to ensure the sustainability of public projects and the protection of government assets.

ICPC: 80% of Nigerians Would Be Jailed If Anti-Corruption Laws Were Fully Enforced

Related Topics:corruption ICPC jailed Nigeria

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Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a newly‑wedded woman suspected of poisoning her husband to death in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the community.

Police reported that the deceased fell seriously ill after eating a meal prepared by his wife and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators from the Jahun Divisional Police Headquarters launched an inquiry and quickly detained the wife as the main suspect.

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During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to putting rat poison in her husband’s food, claiming she was coerced into the marriage by her parents, which fueled resentment that led to the deadly act. Police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway, and the suspect will face court charges once the investigation is complete.

The Commissioner of Police has urged the public to remain calm, stressing that marital disputes should never escalate to violence, and warning that such actions have irreversible consequences. The tragic case highlights growing concerns over domestic poisoning and marital-related crimes in the region.

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

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Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

Published

4 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that six people were killed by suspected bandits in the Wawa community of Borgu Local Government Area, intensifying concerns over the growing security crisis in rural Niger State.

Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun stated that the attack occurred on January 22, 2026, when the victims — including farmers and a local vigilante — were ambushed while heading to their farms near Damala village. Two other people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.

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Local residents described the incident as devastating, urging the state and federal governments to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable communities from frequent bandit attacks.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of banditry in Niger State and neighbouring areas. Recent attacks in Damala village, Woko District, and Kasuwan Daji market in Demo community have left dozens dead, properties destroyed, and residents displaced, highlighting the escalating rural insecurity in the region.

Authorities have vowed to strengthen security operations, while experts warn that continued attacks threaten socioeconomic stability, displace local populations, and erode confidence in local law enforcement.

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

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DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicado

Published

4 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicad

The whereabouts of the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe and two other union officials, Mr Tuwonimi Benstowe and Mr Michael Mbata remain unknown, following their alleged arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Rivers State, according to their lawyer.

NAPO’s counsel said the union leader and his colleagues were picked up during a security operation in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, but have since been held incommunicado, with no official confirmation from the DSS on their detention or location. The development has sparked growing concern among family members, labour unions and civil society groups.

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The lawyer described the action as unlawful and a violation of the detainees’ fundamental human rights, noting that security agencies are required by law to disclose the whereabouts of arrested persons and grant them access to legal representation.

The arrests reportedly followed rising tensions linked to NAPO’s labour activities, including a recent warning strike by plant operators working on the NLNG Train 7 project in Bonny. The union had protested alleged irregular salary deductions and tax remittance issues, which were also the subject of a pending case before the National Industrial Court.

Labour rights advocates have warned that the continued silence of the DSS could undermine due process and escalate industrial unrest, calling for the immediate disclosure of the detainees’ location or their release.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the DSS have remained unsuccessful, while pressure continues to mount on authorities to respect the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.