For first time, CCB secures conviction, seizes property, funds from public officials

For the first time in its history, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has secured convictions, seized property and funds from public officials who have breached the code of conduct. The chairman of the bureau, Abdullahi Bello, announced this during an anti-corruption and asset tracing stakeholders' workshop in Abuja. Bello did not provide specifics on the number of convictions or the seized assets, but he did mention that the bureau has investigated and verified the assets of over 20 ministers and 30 permanent secretaries.

The CCB has shifted its focus from merely receiving asset declaration forms to examining these declarations, investigating suspected infractions, and prosecuting offenders. The bureau has been concentrating its verification efforts on high-profile public officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, and officials from various health agencies.

Bello explained that the bureau conducts face-to-face examinations of public officials' records and verifies their assets both at the beginning and end of their tenure. If there is a discrepancy between the declared and actual assets, the bureau investigates and prosecutes the individual. Asset tracing plays a crucial role in the bureau's anti-corruption efforts, as it enables persistent investigation of potential breaches.

The Code of Conduct provision allows for severe penalties, including removal from office, disqualification from holding public office, and forfeiture of assets acquired through breaches.