By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have voiced strong opposition to the legal provision granting anti-corruption agencies the power to manage and control assets recovered from corrupt individuals.

Speaking at an event in Abuja organised by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI) to assess Nigeria’s asset recovery regime, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, called for the establishment of an independent agency to oversee recovered assets.

Rafsanjani argued that removing asset management responsibilities from agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) would help prevent the re-looting of assets and build public trust in the recovery process.

“If we are serious about asset recovery and management, you cannot have the same agency recovering and managing those assets,” he said.

“The perception that these assets are auctioned off to officials within the agencies erodes public confidence. To eliminate this suspicion, we must work together to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2022 and establish an independent agency.”

However, officials from the EFCC and ICPC disagreed. Directors of the Proceeds of Crime Directorate in both agencies — Gbolahan Latona (EFCC) and Mrs. Grace Agha-Ibe (ICPC) — defended the current system, asserting that the existing legal framework was well-considered by the National Assembly.

Latona maintained that the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act is still in its early stages of implementation and should be given a chance to work.

“The law came into effect less than three years ago. We haven’t fully implemented it, yet we are already advocating for its amendment. Our position is that the law itself is not flawed; it’s the way it is applied that matters,” he said.

Earlier, the Executive Director of CFTPI, Dr. Umar Yakubu, stressed the importance of a transparent and effective asset recovery framework in combating corruption and promoting accountability.

“A robust and efficient asset recovery regime is indispensable for deterring corruption, ensuring accountability for illicit enrichment, and fostering a culture of integrity within our public and private sectors,” Yakubu said.

He added that the discussions would explore critical aspects of the asset recovery process, including the legal framework, institutional capacities, international cooperation challenges, the role of civil society, and the urgent need for transparency and accountability in managing recovered assets.