The Government of Namibia has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to join forces to help fight the escalation of corruption that is currently ravaging the country.
The sought-for help was disclosed in a statement made public on the commission’s website on Saturday. It was noted that the partnership between the two countries will help in looking at opportunities for training and sharing expert experience with the Namibian Anti-corruption Commission personnel in the fight against corruption.
The statement noted that the call was made on Friday when the county Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Humphrey Geise, paid a courtesy call to the ICPC’s headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He noted that the Nigeran government has been leading the fight against corruption in Africa, which calls for both country’s collaboration to extend the fight and reduce the practice of corrupt practices.
According to the statement, the Ambassador further disclosed that the country has an anti-corruption agency known as the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia (ACC). He further noted that he was proposing an engagement between the ICPC and the ACC, which will help in knowledge sharing with the aim of sharing the success stories with a major focus on the asset recovery led by the EFCC.
The statement further explained that the fight against corruption is taking a new dimension on the continent. The ambassadors believe that Nigeria can lead in sharing its expertise in this field, with the hope that it will open its doors to other African countries like Namibia to learn.
The statement further mentioned that the ICPC and the EFCC should be able to go the extra mile to share their remarkable achievements. It’s not good for Namibia to go outside the continent to learn this.
The statement noted that the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, thanked Geise for his presence during the launch of the ICPC’s Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028. He explained that the fight against corruption in the content can only be won through a combined effort of different stakeholders.
The chairman argued that the commission was ever ready and willing to partner with other anti-corruption bodies on the continent to stem the tide of corruption in Africa.
He noted that those who indulge in corruption have networks, which calls for the content to establish a network to work against the network of criminals.
He also disclosed that the commission was aware of the MoU signed by the predecessor, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye. He expressed the commission’s commitment to open doors for any assistance that the Namibian Anti-corruption Commission may require from the ICPC. He noted that the ICPC has its own Anti-corruption Academy where they train people. He called on the staff of all anti-corruption agencies to come for adequate knowledge sharing.
