CCB probes assets of 20 ministers, 30 perm secs — Chairman

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Abdullahi Bello, announced that the bureau has confirmed the assets of over 20 ministers and 30 permanent secretaries as part of efforts to enhance accountability among public officials. At an anti-corruption and asset-tracing stakeholders' workshop in Abuja, Bello emphasized that the CCB has transitioned from accepting asset declaration forms to examining these declarations, investigating suspected violations, and prosecuting offenders.

The bureau is currently focusing its verification process on high-ranking public officials. Bello explained that the bureau conducts face-to-face examinations of public officers' records, verifying their assets at the start and end of their tenure. If there are discrepancies between the initial and final declarations, the bureau investigates and prosecutes the individual.

The chairman stressed that the CCB can initiate an investigation before an official's term ends, based on allegations or intelligence. HEDA's Executive Secretary, Arigbabu Sulaimon, highlighted that the workshop aimed to enhance inter-agency collaboration, intelligence-sharing, and the role of civil society in combating corruption.

Sulaimon stressed the importance of bridging interagency silos, fostering civic synergy, and utilizing the proceeds of crime act and the CCB's mechanisms to trace and recover illicit assets. The focus on whistleblower protection was also emphasized, emphasizing the need for stronger safeguards to encourage individuals to report corruption and other crimes.