EFCC warns against ‘anticipatory’ asset declarations by public officers
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over a growing trend among public officers who engage in “anticipatory” asset declarations to justify future acts of corruption.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, at the launch of a Virtual Tool on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers organised by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in collaboration with the Technical Unit on Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), Olukoyede described the tactic as a calculated attempt to legitimise stolen public funds.
He explained that in one EFCC investigation, a politically exposed person declared ownership of a property valued at over N3 billion in their CCB form, but the address provided did not match the actual location. Further checks revealed the property did not exist at the time of declaration, exposing what he called “criminally smart” behaviour.
Olukoyede urged the CCB to note such practices and deploy innovative investigative methods to curb them, stressing that tackling sophisticated corruption schemes requires proactive and technology-driven approaches.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said adherence to ethical standards is the foundation of public service. He commended the launch of the CCB’s virtual tool as a milestone in digitising oversight of public conduct, adding that it would promote preventive compliance and raise awareness.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, emphasised the need to leverage technology for faster, smarter, and more transparent governance. She noted that without ethics, no reform would last, describing the tool as accessible, cost-effective, and capable of enhancing transparency, tracking, and compliance.
Earlier, the CCB Chairman, Abdullahi Usman Bello, said the platform was designed to make public officers more accountable and guide them through the rules and regulations governing their conduct.
He expressed confidence that the tool would help maintain high ethical standards in the public sector, ensuring that public servants carry out their duties with integrity.
