The Code of Conduct Bureau has disclosed that it has investigated and verified the assets declared by more than 20 ministers and 30 permanent secretaries as part of an intensified drive to detect unexplained wealth and strengthen accountability among public officers.
The CCB Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at an anti-corruption and asset-tracing stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda in collaboration with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa.
Bello said the bureau had moved beyond its traditional role of receiving asset declaration forms, explaining that it now examines declarations, investigates suspected discrepancies and prosecutes public officers where necessary.
“We are not submitting forms anymore. Now, we’re examining the forms, we’re also investigating, and we’re also prosecuting,” Bello said.
He explained that the bureau had prioritised the verification of declarations made by high-ranking public officials, including ministers and permanent secretaries.
According to him, the exercise had also covered officials in 32 health agencies and other high-profile public institutions.
“We have interviewed and verified the relations of more than 20 ministers, 30 permanent secretaries, 32 health agencies, and other high-profile individuals,” he said.
Bello said public officers could be invited to the bureau for face-to-face examination of their asset declarations and supporting records.
He explained that the CCB would compare the assets declared by an official at the beginning and end of tenure, with significant unexplained changes potentially triggering further investigation.
“One of the key things that we do is that, once you declare your assets at the beginning of your term, we verify it, then we’ll wait for you at the end of your term, we’ll also verify it,” he said.
He added, “If you see any difference between the beginning and the end, that can only be explained by your non-social income, then we investigate you and prosecute you.”
The CCB chairman, however, stressed that the bureau does not have to wait until an official completes his or her tenure before commencing an investigation.
He said allegations or intelligence suggesting wrongdoing could prompt an investigation while an official was still in office.
“But it doesn’t mean that we have to wait for you to finish office before we can investigate you. If there is any allegation against you, we can also investigate. Or if there is intelligence against you, we can also investigate,” Bello said.
Also speaking at the workshop, the Executive Secretary of HEDA, Arigbabu Sulaimon, called for stronger collaboration among anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to improve the tracing and recovery of illicit assets.
Sulaimon said the workshop was designed to produce practical strategies rather than merely provide another platform for speeches.
He described it as a technical working session aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation and improving the flow of intelligence among agencies and civil society groups.
“Conceptualised not merely as a platform for speeches, but as a technical working session,” Sulaimon said.
He identified bridging institutional silos and fostering civic synergy as one of the key objectives of the meeting, stressing that effective information-sharing remained crucial to the fight against corruption.
The HEDA executive secretary also urged stakeholders to make greater use of the Proceeds of Crime Act and the statutory mechanisms available to the Code of Conduct Bureau for tracing and recovering assets suspected to have been acquired through illicit means.
Sulaimon further called for stronger protection for whistleblowers, arguing that individuals with information about corruption and other crimes require adequate safeguards before they can confidently approach relevant authorities.
He said better protection would encourage more people to provide intelligence capable of helping law-enforcement and anti-corruption institutions uncover financial crimes and recover suspected illicit proceeds.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
