Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Code of Conduct Bureau has investigated and verified the assets of more than 20 ministers and 30 permanent secretaries as part of efforts to strengthen accountability among public officials.
The Chairman of the CCB, 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 simply collecting asset declaration forms, noting that it now scrutinises declarations, investigates suspected violations and prosecutes offenders where necessary.
According to him, the bureau’s verification exercise has focused particularly on senior government officials.
He said the CCB had also interviewed and verified the assets of officials linked to more than 20 ministers, 30 permanent secretaries, 32 health agencies and other high-profile public officers.
Bello explained that officials could be invited to the bureau for face-to-face examination of their declarations and supporting records.
He said the bureau compares officials’ assets at the beginning and end of their tenure to identify unexplained changes that may warrant further investigation.
The chairman, however, stressed that the CCB does not have to wait until an official leaves office before commencing an investigation.
He said allegations or intelligence concerning a public officer could trigger an investigation at any point during the person’s tenure.
Bello also described asset tracing as a key component of the bureau’s anti-corruption work, saying the process helps investigators follow suspected illicit wealth and pursue recovery.
He disclosed that the CCB had secured convictions and obtained forfeiture of properties and funds in cases involving breaches of the Code of Conduct.
Bello further explained that sanctions for violations could include removal from office, disqualification from holding public office for up to 15 years and forfeiture of assets acquired through a breach.
At the workshop, HEDA Executive Secretary, Arigbabu Sulaimon, called for stronger cooperation among government agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders involved in the fight against corruption.
Sulaimon said the workshop was designed as a technical platform for improving intelligence sharing and strengthening collaboration between state institutions and civil society.
He said civil society organisations could support investigations through grassroots monitoring and open-source intelligence, which could provide leads for law enforcement agencies.
The HEDA executive secretary also advocated greater use of the Proceeds of Crime Act and the CCB’s statutory powers to trace, recover and transparently manage assets linked to criminal activities.
He urged authorities to make asset declaration a more effective mechanism for detecting unexplained wealth and abuse of public office, rather than treating it as a routine administrative exercise.
Sulaimon also called for stronger legal protection and safer reporting channels for whistleblowers, arguing that individuals who expose corruption need adequate safeguards against retaliation.