CCB gives ministers-designate deadline to declare assets

TRACKING>>- The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has given minsters-designate deadline to declare their assets

– The CCB says ministers-designate must declare their assets before inauguration or risk facing the wrath of the law

– The chairman of CCB, Muhammad Isah, says it is legally compulsory for the ministers-designate to declare their assets

Ministers-designate have been ordered by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to declare their assets before inauguration or risk facing the wrath of the law.

The order was made by the chairman of CCB, Muhammed Isah, who said that none of the ministers would be inaugurated without first declaring his or assets, The Nation reports.

Tracknews.ng gathers that Isah said a considerable number of the ministers-designate had collected assets declaration forms but had not completed the process.

He added that some were yet to obtain the assets declaration form.

Isah said: “It is legally compulsory for the ministers-designate to declare their assets. If they do not declare their assets, they cannot be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari. That is the most appropriate thing. We are determined to enforce the law.

“So, the deadline for the declaration of assets is before their inauguration. From reports, a considerable number of them have collected but they have not completed the process. Some have not obtained the assets declaration form.”

According to Isah, CCB will verify the claims of ministers-designate at home and abroad.

He said: “We engage in up site and on site investigation of the ministers’ claims. By invoking up site investigation, we will verify their claims from land registry, banks, property firms, and companies they have shares or fully owned by them.

“On site investigation involves inspection of the properties or assets declared in our form. This requires our officers going to assess the claims made by the ministers.

“As for those with assets abroad, we will liaise with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to liaise with relevant authorities in foreign jurisdictions to confirm the truth or otherwise of such assets.”

Meanwhile, Tracknews.ng previously reportedly that the presidency sent a message to all ministers-designate informing them of the availability of relevant documents to be studied.

In a series of tweets on Monday, August 5, Boss Mustapha who is the secretary to the government of the federation asked the ministers-designate to come with their updated CVs both in soft and hard copies to their office.