Some members of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, on Monday, expressed displeasure over the declaration by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that it had transferred all forfeited assets to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The anti-graft agency, represented by its Director of Operations Abdulkarim Chukkol, appeared before the committee chaired by Senator Suleiman Kwari.
Chukkol told the senators that all the forfeited assets had been transferred to the Office of the AGF
He said the EFCC acted in line with the policy directive issued since 2019 that all final forfeited assets should be transferred to the office of the AGF for proper management
He did not enumerate the assets transferred to the Office of the AGF while speaking before the lawmakers.
Some senators therefore kicked against the decision to transfer the forfeited assets.
Senator Abba Moro specifically stated that he did see any form of management acumen in the AGF office that is not in the EFCC.
He said the assets needed to be disposed off for government to raise money to finance the budget.
“I do not see the rationale for the transfer of assets to the AGF. I do not see any management acumen in the AGF office that is not available in the EFCC,” he said.
However, the committee’s chairman, in his intervention, said the Proceed of Crime Bill that is currently before the Senate would address the issue.
“This is what the Proceed of Crime Bill will be addressing, it will seek to address such ambiguity,” he said.
Also, during the budget defence hearing, senators complained about the meagre budget allocated to the anti-graft agency, saying that the fund is not enough to fight corruption in Nigeria.
Senator Yusuf Yusuf wondered how N31billion will be enough to fight corruption in the country.
Senator Smart Adeyemi also complained about the fund allocated to the agency.
Source: Punch.