The Code of Conduct Bureau has investigated and verified the assets of more than 20 ministers and 30 permanent secretaries, and holding other top government officials accountable.
CCB Chairman Abdullahi Bello revealed this on Wednesday in Abuja during an anti-corruption workshop organized by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) in partnership with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa.
The bureau said it has shifted its strategy from simply collecting asset declaration forms and storing them, to actively examining records, interviewing officials, and prosecuting those with questionable wealth.
The agency said it is saddled with the responsibility to inspect the assets of public officers after their declaration at the start of their tenure and compares it with what they own when leaving office. Any sudden increase in wealth that cannot be explained by legitimate income triggers investigation and potential prosecution from the agency.
The bureau also stated that it does not have to wait for an official to leave office before taking action. If credible allegations or intelligence emerge while an official is still serving, an investigation starts right away.
“We are not just submitting forms anymore. Now, we’re examining the forms, we’re also investigating, and we’re also prosecuting”, Bello.
He warned that penalties for code of conduct breaches are severe, including a 15-year ban from holding public office, immediate removal from position, and full forfeiture of ill-gotten assets to the federal government.
Also speaking at the event, HEDA Executive Secretary Arigbabu Sulaimon stressed the need for intelligence sharing between civil society groups and security agencies. He called for legal protections for whistleblowers who risk their safety to report corruption.
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