By Ben Ogbemudia
The Code of Conduct Bureau on Monday said that the Bureau can not be intimidated into not doing its constitutional duties as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, no matter how highly placed the person is.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged N100 million Naira bribery by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State , Senator Godswill Akpabio to officials of the CCB to assist Akwa Effiong (Sole Administrator, NDDC) fill and backdate his Assets declaration forms from 2012 till date, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma said both the Minister for Niger/Delta and Effiong Akwa wrote to the Bureau asking for another day to appear before it.
“Yes, Godswill Akpabio wrote to us that he is a bit indisposed and seeks for an extension of the date of which we have granted; for Effiong Akwa , there was clash of date. The National Assembly Committee on Niger/Delta are currently with him in Port Harcourt for oversight function. He also wrote to us to explain change of date. so, all things being equal, we will get to the root of the matter.”
The Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau, Professor Mohammed Isah had earlier inaugurated an investigation panel where he stated that the exercise is in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy on fighting corruption as well as promoting transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.
The objective of the Assets Verification Committee is to thoroughly scrutinize the completed assets declaration forms of public officers to ensure accuracy.
” If anybody feels we are playing , they should remember Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen’s case with us at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over his Asset declaration infractions which are illegal under Nigeria’s code of conduct law. So, Allegation of Bribery Against CCB Officials for Backdating of Assets Declaration Forms of Akwa Effiong must be investigated seriously.
“On the 5th day of February, 2021, the attention of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was drawn to the series of tweets on the Twitter handle of one Jackson Ude and an Online newspaper publication by pointblanknews.com to the effect that Mr. Godswill Akpabio (Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs) allegedly paid the sum of N100 million Naira to officials of the CCB to assist Akwa Effiong (Sole Administrator, NDDC) fill and backdate his Assets declaration forms from 2012 till date.
After an emergency meeting of the Bureau Board held on the 9th day of February, 2021, it was decided that an investigation be commissioned with a view to establishing the veracity of the allegation against the officials of the CCB and other public officers (being it’s subject) along the line.”
“The CCB wishes to reiterate that the effort of this administration in the fight against corruption cannot be allowed to be cheaply undermined by anybody for whatsoever reason. Anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law.
“We finally appeal to any Nigerian with relevant information to come forward and assist the Bureau in carrying out its professional /constitutional mandate which will ensure effective delivery.
An act to provide for the establishment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal to deal with complaints of corruption by public servants for the breaches of its provisions, says Whereas by section 20 of the code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, the Code of Conduct Tribunal is established for the trial of public officers guilty of contravening the provisions of the Act; Aims and objectives of the Bureau shall be to establish and maintain a high Standard of morality in the conduct of Government business and to ensure that the actions and behavior of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability. 3. The functions of the Bureau shall be to- (a) receive assets of declarations by Public officers in accordance with the provisions of this Act; (b) examine the assets declarations and ensure that they comply with the requirements of this Act and of any law for the time being in force; (c) take and retain custody of such assets declarations; and (d) receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of this Act and where the Bureau considers it necessary to do so, refer such complaints to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in accordance with the
“Every public officer shall, within fifteen months after the coming into force of this Act or immediately after taking office and thereafter- (a) at the end of every four years; (b) at the end of his term of office; and (c) in the case of a serving officer, within thirty days of the receipt of the form from the Bureau or at such other intervals as the Bureau or at such other intervals as the Bureau may specify, submit to the Bureau a written declaration in the Form prescribed in the first Schedule to this Act or, in such form as the Bureau may, from time to time, specify, of all his properties, assets and liabilities and those of his spouse or unmarried children under the age of twenty-one years.
“Any statement in any declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorized in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this act. (3) Any property or assets acquired by a public officer after any declaration required by subsection (1) of this section and which is not fairly attributable to income, gifts or loan approved by this Act shall be deemed to have been acquired in breach of this Act unless the contrary is proved. 16. Any complaint that a public officer has committed a breach of or has not complied with the provisions of this Act shall be made to the Bureau.”
Amendments proposed to Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act
