CCB probes assets of over 20 ministers

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has conducted investigations and verified the assets of more than 20 ministers and 30 permanent secretaries in an effort to enhance accountability among public officials. At a recent anti-corruption and asset tracing stakeholders' workshop in Abuja, CCB Chairman Abdullahi Bello disclosed that the bureau had gone beyond mere acceptance of asset declaration forms to encompass the examination, investigation, and prosecution of suspected infractions.

Bello emphasized that the CCB focuses its verification on high-profile public officers, including ministers, permanent secretaries, health agencies, and other individuals of note. The bureau encourages public officials to disclose their assets at the beginning and end of their tenure, conducting thorough verifications to identify any discrepancies that may indicate non-social income.

Bello stressed that investigations can commence before an official's tenure ends if allegations or intelligence exist. He described asset tracing as a critical aspect of the bureau's anti-corruption efforts, leading to convictions and the forfeiture of properties and funds linked to breaches of the code of conduct.