How to Write a Petition to the ICPC in Nigeria

Preparing and submitting a petition to the ICPC.

Introduction

If you believe that a person, company, public official, government agency or other organisation has been involved in a corrupt practice or an offence within the mandate of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), you may report the matter to the Commission by submitting a petition.

A well-written petition can help the ICPC understand what happened, identify the persons involved and determine whether the allegations require investigation.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was established by the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which empowers it to investigate and prosecute offences created under the Act and any other law prohibiting corruption.

This article explains how to write a petition to the ICPC in Nigeria, what information to include, how to submit it and what happens after you submit it.

What is an ICPC petition?

An ICPC petition is a complaint made to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission requesting the Commission to look into suspected corruption or other offences within its statutory mandate.

The petition should provide sufficient facts and information to enable the Commission to understand the allegation and, where appropriate, investigate it.

A petition is not simply an opportunity to make accusations against another person. The allegations should be based on facts that the petitioner can reasonably support.

When should you write a petition to the ICPC?

You may consider petitioning the ICPC where the facts disclose suspected corruption or another offence that falls within the Commission’s mandate.

Examples may include allegations involving:

bribery or corrupt payments;
demanding or receiving an unlawful benefit;
abuse of public office for personal benefit;
corruption involving a public officer;
fraudulent or corrupt dealings involving public funds;
diversion or misuse of public resources;
corrupt practices in government contracts or procurement;
offering a bribe to a public officer; and
other conduct prohibited by the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act or another law prohibiting corruption.

The important question is not merely whether you have suffered a wrong. You should consider whether the facts disclose suspected corruption or another offence that the ICPC has jurisdiction to investigate.

For example, a disagreement over a purely private contract does not automatically become an ICPC matter merely because money is involved. The facts should disclose conduct that falls within the Commission’s legal mandate.

The ICPC is not the only government agency that receives complaints involving alleged criminal or corrupt conduct. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the Police or the EFCC may also be the appropriate agency. You can read our guides on How to Write a Petition to the Police in Nigeria⁠ and How to Write a Petition to the EFCC in Nigeria⁠ for more information.

Who can submit a petition to the ICPC?

A person who has information about suspected corruption or an offence within the ICPC’s mandate may report the matter to the Commission.

You should provide sufficient information to enable the Commission to understand the complaint and contact you where necessary.

If you are writing on behalf of a company or organisation, identify the organisation and state your position or authority to act on its behalf.

What information should an ICPC petition contain?

There is no need to use complicated legal language when writing a petition. What is important is that the facts are clear, specific and sufficiently detailed.

A good petition should generally contain the following:

1. The name and address of the petitioner

Begin by identifying yourself.

Include:

your full name;
residential or office address;
telephone number;
email address; and
any other relevant contact information.

If you are writing on behalf of a company or organisation, identify the organisation and state your position or authority to act on its behalf.

2. Address the petition to the ICPC

The petition may be addressed to the:

The Chairman
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
Abuja, Nigeria

If the petition is being submitted to a particular ICPC office, the appropriate office may also be identified.

3. Write a clear subject or title

The subject should immediately tell the Commission what the petition concerns.

For example:

PETITION AGAINST MR. JOHN DOE FOR ALLEGED DEMAND AND RECEIPT OF BRIBE IN CONNECTION WITH THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT

Or:

PETITION REGARDING ALLEGED DIVERSION OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY [NAME/ORGANISATION]

Avoid vague subjects such as:

Complaint against Mr. X

A specific subject makes it easier to understand the nature of the complaint from the beginning.

4. Introduce the reason for the petition

Briefly explain who you are and why you are writing.

For example:

I am the Managing Director of XYZ Limited. I write to bring to the attention of the Commission certain acts of suspected corruption involving Mr. John Doe, a public officer attached to ABC Government Agency, in connection with the award and execution of a contract for the supply of equipment.

The introductory paragraph should be short. The detailed facts should follow.

5. State the facts chronologically

This is one of the most important parts of the petition.

Explain what happened in the order in which it happened.

Where possible, state:

dates;
times;
locations;
names of persons involved;
names of organisations or government agencies;
amounts of money involved;
bank or payment details where relevant;
relevant meetings or communications;
what was requested or demanded;
what was paid, transferred or delivered;
what happened afterwards; and
how you became aware of the alleged conduct.

Instead of writing:

Mr. X is corrupt and has been stealing government money for years.

It is better to state the facts that form the basis of the allegation:

On 14 August 2026, Mr. X, who was then serving as [position], requested the sum of ₦2,000,000 from me as a condition for processing the contract. On 16 August 2026, the sum of ₦2,000,000 was transferred to the account details provided by him. A copy of the transfer receipt is attached as Exhibit A.

The second approach gives the Commission something concrete to investigate.

6. Identify the person or persons involved

Give as much identifying information as you reasonably have.

This may include:

full name;
position or occupation;
employer;
organisation;
office address;
residential address, where lawfully known;
telephone number;
email address;
company registration details, where applicable; and
any other information that can assist in identifying or locating the person.

If you do not know someone’s address or other identifying information, do not invent it. Simply state what you know.

7. Explain the alleged corrupt conduct

After setting out the facts, explain why you believe the conduct amounts to corruption or another offence within the ICPC’s mandate.

You do not necessarily have to identify the precise section of the law yourself.

For example:

The circumstances described above give me reasonable grounds to suspect that the demand and receipt of the payment constituted a corrupt transaction and should be investigated by the Commission.

If you know the relevant law and are confident about the provision, it may be cited. However, it is generally better to state the facts accurately than to force an incorrect legal classification onto the allegations.

8. State the evidence available

Tell the ICPC what evidence exists and where it can be found.

Evidence may include:

receipts;
bank transfer records;
bank statements;
contracts;
invoices;
procurement documents;
official letters;
emails;
WhatsApp or other electronic communications;
photographs;
audio or video recordings, where lawfully obtained;
company documents;
government documents;
names of witnesses; and
other relevant records.

Do not attach irrelevant documents simply to make the petition appear substantial.

The objective is to provide material that can help the Commission understand and investigate the allegations.

9. Attach relevant documents

Where you have documents supporting your allegations, attach them to the petition.

For example:

Annexure A: Contract
Annexure B: Payment receipt
Annexure C: Correspondence
Annexure D: Relevant photographs

Where there are many documents, a schedule of documents can make the petition easier to follow.

10. State what you want the ICPC to do

At the end of the petition, clearly state the action you are requesting.

For example:

In view of the facts stated above, I respectfully request the Commission to investigate the allegations contained in this petition and take such further action as may be appropriate under the law.

You may also request the Commission to investigate particular transactions, persons or documents where appropriate.

Avoid demanding that the ICPC must convict or prosecute a person. Investigation and prosecution are matters for the appropriate authorities based on the evidence and applicable law.

11. Be truthful and careful with allegations

This is extremely important.

Do not exaggerate facts, manufacture evidence or make allegations that you know to be false.

If you are uncertain about something, say so.

For example:

I have not personally verified the identity of the account holder. However, the account details were provided to me by Mr. X in the WhatsApp conversation attached as Annexure B.

That is preferable to presenting an assumption as an established fact.

Important notice about false petitions

The ICPC expressly warns that the submission of a false petition is an offence.

The Commission’s petition notice states:

NOTE: submission of false petition is an offence, and it attracts a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years and a fine not exceeding N100,000 as provided in Section 64(3) of Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

You should therefore ensure that the information contained in your petition is truthful and that you do not deliberately make false allegations against another person.

A simple structure for an ICPC petition

A petition can follow this structure:

1. Your details

Name, address, telephone number and email.

2. Date

The date on which the petition is written.

3. Recipient

The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

4. Subject

A short and specific description of the allegation.

5. Introduction

Who you are and why you are petitioning.

6. Facts

A chronological account of what happened.

7. Persons involved

Names and identifying information.

8. Evidence

Documents, communications, witnesses and other supporting material.

9. Request

The investigation or other appropriate action you want the Commission to take.

10. Signature

Your name and signature, where applicable.

Sample petition to the ICPC

Below is a simplified example. The names, dates, amounts and facts are fictional and should not be copied as though they relate to a real case.

27th August 2026

The Chairman
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
Abuja, Nigeria

Dear Sir,

PETITION AGAINST MR. JOHN DOE FOR ALLEGED DEMAND AND RECEIPT OF BRIBE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROCESSING OF A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

My name is Mr. James Doe and I am the Managing Director of XYZ Limited, a company involved in the supply of medical equipment.

I write to respectfully bring to the attention of the Commission an alleged corrupt transaction involving Mr. John Doe, an officer of ABC Government Agency.

On 10 August 2026, XYZ Limited submitted its documents in connection with a procurement process being conducted by ABC Government Agency.

On 14 August 2026, Mr. John Doe contacted me by telephone and informed me that an additional payment of ₦2,000,000 was required before our company’s documents could be processed. I did not offer or volunteer to make this payment. Rather, the demand was made to me by Mr. Doe as a condition for the processing of our company’s documents. (A recording of the relevant communication is attached as Annexure A).

In order to establish and preserve evidence of the demand, and to enable the matter to be properly reported to the appropriate authorities, I did not immediately refuse the demand. Instead, I continued communicating with Mr. Doe and, on 15 August 2026, he sent account details to me through WhatsApp and instructed me to make the payment into the account. (A copy of the relevant communication is attached as Annexure B).

On 16 August 2026, acting in response to the demand and for the purpose of documenting the alleged transaction, I transferred the sum of ₦2,000,000 to the account details provided by Mr. Doe. I did not make the payment voluntarily or for the purpose of obtaining an unlawful advantage. The transfer was made in response to the demand communicated to me by Mr. Doe, so that the demand and the alleged transaction could be properly documented. (A copy of the transfer receipt is attached as Annexure C).

I have attached copies of the relevant documents and communications in my possession to assist the Commission in investigating the matter.

The demand for the payment, the subsequent communications and the transfer of the sum of ₦2,000,000 are the subject of this petition. I respectfully request that the Commission investigate the circumstances surrounding the demand and payment and take such further action as may be appropriate under the law.

I am willing to provide any further information or documents that may assist the Commission in its investigation.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

[Full Name]
[Address]
[Telephone Number]
[Email Address]
[Signature]

How to submit a petition to the ICPC

ICPC Contact and Submission Channels

According to the ICPC’s current petition guidelines, a complaint/petition is made through oral or written report submitted through several channels, including:

Email: info@icpc.gov.ng
Toll-free lines: 0800-CALL-ICPC (0800-2255-4272)
MTN: 0803-123-0280, 0803-123-0281
Glo: 0705-699-0190, 0705-699-0191

The ICPC headquarters is located at:

Plot 802 Constitution Avenue, Zone A9, Central Business District, PMB 535, Abuja, Nigeria.

The Commission’s petition guidelines also state that it shall acknowledge receipt of a petition within 48 hours.

Online Petition

The ICPC provides an online petition platform through which members of the public can submit petitions.

The Commission’s official petition page provides a form for submitting a complaint and requires information about the petitioner and the subject matter of the petition.

You can submit a petition through the official ICPC petition portal⁠.

The ICPC provides petition guidelines containing further information about submitting complaints.

You can visit the ICPC’s official petition guidelines⁠ for information about the Commission’s requirements and other reporting channels.

Before submitting your petition, it is advisable to check the Commission’s official website for the current submission requirements and reporting channels.

What happens after you submit an ICPC petition?

After a petition is submitted, the Commission may review the complaint and determine the appropriate action to take.

The ICPC’s procedures provide for complaints to be considered and, where appropriate, investigated.

Submitting a petition does not mean that the person complained against has been found guilty of an offence. The allegations remain allegations until they are established through the appropriate legal process.

You should therefore avoid presenting the person complained against as though they have already been convicted of a crime.

Can a lawyer write an ICPC petition?

Yes. A petitioner may prepare and submit a petition personally, but there may be circumstances in which it is useful to have a lawyer prepare or review it.

A lawyer can help to:

identify the relevant legal issues;
organise the facts;
distinguish facts from assumptions;
identify relevant documents;
frame the allegations appropriately;
avoid unnecessary or potentially defamatory statements;
ensure that important details are not omitted; and
formulate an appropriate request to the Commission.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing an ICPC petition

1. Writing an emotional petition instead of a factual one

Avoid filling the petition with insults, threats or emotional statements.

Focus on what happened.

2. Making unsupported accusations

Do not state that someone committed a crime simply because you suspect them.

Explain the facts giving rise to the suspicion.

3. Leaving out dates and amounts

Dates, amounts and other specific details can be extremely important in an investigation.

4. Providing irrelevant documents

Attach documents that are relevant to the allegations rather than sending every document connected with your dispute.

5. Hiding information that may contradict your allegation

A petition should present the material facts fairly. Selectively presenting information can undermine the credibility of the complaint.

6. Making a false petition

Never manufacture facts or deliberately make false allegations against another person.

As stated above, the ICPC’s notice warns that submitting a false petition is an offence punishable under section 64(3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

7. Using complicated legal language unnecessarily

You do not need to write a petition as though it were a court judgment.

Clear facts are more useful than unnecessary legal jargon.

Conclusion

Writing a petition to the ICPC does not require complicated language. The most important things are to explain the facts clearly, identify the persons involved, provide relevant details, attach available evidence and clearly state what you are asking the Commission to investigate.

Most importantly, a petition should be truthful. If you have reasonable grounds to suspect corruption, present the facts and supporting information to the Commission and allow the appropriate investigative process to take its course.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The law, procedures, requirements and reporting channels of government agencies may change. Where your circumstances are specific or the matter involves significant financial, criminal or legal consequences, you should obtain advice from a qualified Nigerian lawyer.

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