AGF Malami scraps asset recovery committees; strips EFCC, ICPC of powers

Asset recovery and tracing committees set up by the Federal Government have been scrapped by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The Minister, in a Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette Vol. 106, No 163, titled, ‘Asset Tracing, Recovery and Management Regulation 2019’, dated October 29, 2019, also stripped the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences (ICPC) of the power to seize assets.

Malami ordered in Part 3, Section 5(1) of the gazette that all non-conviction based forfeiture shall be conducted by his office. He added that where a non-conviction based forfeiture procedure arose, the law enforcement agency and anti-corruption agencies should transfer the matter to the office of the AGF.

Read also: N2.1BN FRAUD: Maina’s request to be transferred from police custody denied

Section 5 states, “All non-conviction based forfeiture shall be conducted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“Where a non-conviction based forfeiture procedure arises, the LEA (Law Enforcement Agency) and ACAs (Anti-Corruption Agencies) shall transfer the matter to the Office of the AGF.”

The gazette further states that all seized assets shall be registered by all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The gazette further states that all final forfeited assets recovered by agencies shall be handed over to the AGF within 60 days from the commencement of the regulations of management, adding that any agency head who failed to follow the new guidelines would be dealt with.

“… Non–compliance with the regulations of these provisions and the guidelines and directions made pursuant to these regulations shall be considered insubordination and attract liability under the Public Sevice Rules”, Malami said I’m gazette.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now