By Matthew Otabe
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC*, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has said that responsible handling of personal data is central to the Commission’s anti-corruption mandate.
Dr. Aliyu stated that public confidence in the ICPC depends not only on successful investigations and prosecutions, but also on the agency’s ability to safeguard the personal information entrusted to it.
He spoke on Saturday at the opening of a one-day sensitisation and awareness programme on data protection and privacy for ICPC officers and staff at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mr. Henry Emore, the ICPC Chairman noted that in the course of its statutory duties, the Commission processes and stores vast amounts of sensitive data relating to petitioners, suspects, witnesses, complainants, employees, contractors, consultants and members of the public.
_“Every personal record in our custody represents an individual’s dignity, privacy and trust. It is therefore imperative that we handle such information lawfully, responsibly and securely,”_ he said.
Aliyu observed that while data has become a critical asset for governance, investigations and service delivery, its misuse could expose individuals to harm, compromise ongoing investigations, erode public trust and damage institutional credibility.
According to him, data protection has moved beyond the purview of ICT professionals and legal experts to become _“a key pillar of good governance, transparency, accountability and institutional integrity.”_
He urged ICPC personnel to uphold the highest standards in the collection, access, use, sharing, storage and disposal of personal information, stressing that accountability, fairness, confidentiality and respect for individual rights must guide all official activities.
The Chairman disclosed that the Commission has strengthened its internal data protection framework with the establishment of the Data Protection and Incident Response Team, DPIR The team, comprising officers from various departments, is tasked with enhancing compliance, improving internal processes, strengthening incident response and promoting privacy-conscious operations across the Commission.
Also speaking, the Commission’s Data Protection Officer, Barr. David Nwaze, described the programme as a strategic initiative to reinforce the understanding that data protection is “not only a legal obligation but also a professional responsibility and a core institutional value.”
He commended the ICPC management for its commitment to advancing data protection compliance and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their daily work.
The sensitisation featured presentations on responsible data handling and on collaboration between the ICPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC to strengthen compliance across the public sector.
The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Inelegwu Egahi and NDPC official, Barr. Babatunde Bamigboye
