CCB Moves To Begin Verification Of Assets By Public Officers, Renews Commitment To corruption-eradication Mandate
IN a renewed bid to fulfil its constitutional mandate of eradicating corruption among public officers, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has set machinery in motion for quiet and independent verification of assets of public officers in and outside the country.
The new leadership of the CCB, under the chair of Professor Isah Mohammed, has activated two key processes on monitoring of public officers and verification of their assets declared and those they fail to declare.
The Bureau debunked claims in some quarters that the verification exercise was a hitch-hunt.
It said that the verification exercise was clearly within its purview and powers, adding that it was exercising the powers conferred on it by Section 153 of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution (as amended)
This, according to the CCB, was to ensure that no public officer breached the code of conduct without facing the prescribed sanctions.
In view of the negative response which the exercise is generating, the CCB said it was organizing a press conference which its Chairman, Prof. Isah Mohammed would in Abuja.
The media event, according to the Director, EAS, Mr D.O. Okafor, would take place on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 in the CCB’s Conference Room, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
In a statement in which he explained the mandate of the Bureau and announced the upcoming media chat, Mr D O. Okafor said that “The Code of Conduct Bureau was established in 1989 and retained in the 1999 CFRN (as altered).
“Part 1 of the third schedule to the Constitution empowers the Bureau to eradicate corrupt practices through the enforcement of the Code of Conduct for public officers.
“It is also to, among others:
• Administer assets declaration to the public officers;
• Enforce compliance with the Code of Conduct for public officers;
• Carry out enlightenment campaign to educate public officers on their obligation to comply with Code of Conduct for public officers (CCPO);
• Gather intelligence and receive complaints of non-compliance with Code of Conduct for public officers;
• Investigate non-compliance with Code of Conduct for public officers; and,
• Where pertinent refer investigated cases to Code of Conduct Tribunal and prosecute non-complying public officers.
He said in the statement that “also executive order 006(b) of 2018 gave the Bureau the power to investigate, prosecute and discipline public officers who engage in corrupt practices.
“Pursuant to the above with reference to Section 15 (1) dealing with declaration of assets, the Bureau has been issuing and receiving assets declaration forms to and from public officers in various levels of government establishments in the Country as required by law.
“However, it is necessary to point out that the process of Asset Declaration is not complete until the assets declared by public officers are verified by the Bureau.
“In view of the mandate of the Bureau which has to do with verification of Assets and liabilities of public officers, the Bureau has been writing letters to some selected public officers to provide certain documents to back up their ownership of claimed assets declared.
“However, the feelers and response the Bureau is getting from affected public officers and some members of the public are that the exercise is a cover-up by the government to use the Bureau as a tool to witch-hunt, intimidate and blacklist some public officers who are seen as enemies of the present federal government.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the verification exercise is clearly within the purview and powers of the Bureau and we are exercising the powers conferred on the office by Section 153 of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution (as amended)
“In view of the negative response which the exercise is generating, we are organizing a press conference which the CCB Chairman, Prof. Isah Mohammed will address as follows:
• Theme of Conference – Code of Conduct Bureau Assets Verification Exercise: Our Mandate! Our Objective!!
• Venue — CCB Conference Room, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja
• Date — Wednesday 3rd November, 2021
• Time — 12 noon
“We are therefore requesting that you send your press crew to cover the event. On the occasion, journalists will be free to ask question on the exercise.
“Your early action on this matter will be highly appreciated.”
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