The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, FCCA, CFE, has underscored the critical role of asset tracing and recovery in strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
Dr Bello made this known while delivering a goodwill message at the Anti-Corruption and Assets Tracing Stakeholders Workshop, titled “Strengthening Anti-Corruption Capacity and Assets Tracing Frameworks in Nigeria,” organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), in Abuja on 23 September 2026.
The Chairman reaffirmed the CCB’s mandate to ensure that public officers adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct through the enforcement of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
He highlighted asset declaration and conflict of interest as key areas of the Code and disclosed that the Bureau has strengthened its verification and review processes.
According to Dr Bello, the CCB has interviewed and verified the asset declarations of more than 20 state governors, 20 permanent secretaries and 32 heads of agencies, alongside other high-profile public officers. The verification process includes face-to-face interviews and examination of declared assets at the beginning and end of tenure to identify discrepancies that may require further investigation and prosecution.
He stressed that effective anti-corruption enforcement must go beyond prosecution to include asset tracing and recovery, noting that the ability to identify and recover illicitly acquired assets is essential to preventing the concealment and enjoyment of proceeds of wrongdoing.
Dr Bello disclosed that the CCB has commenced securing forfeitures involving money, hotels and properties within and outside Nigeria, while strengthening the Bureau’s capacity to enforce forfeiture provisions under the Code of Conduct.
The Chairman acknowledged the support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, stating that the support has strengthened the Bureau’s capacity to pursue its mandate and deliver measurable results.
He also announced that the CCB’s Online Asset Declaration System has been completed and is being prepared for launch, marking an important step towards a more efficient, accessible and technology-driven asset declaration and verification process.
Read the full story and learn more about the CCB’s reforms and anti-corruption initiatives:
www.ccb.gov.ng