Senators oppose EFCC’s transfer of forfeited assets to Malami’s office

Members of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption have faulted the transfer of forfeited assets to the Office of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC’s Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol, had while appearing before the committee during the budget defence session on Monday, said all forfeited assets were transferred to the AGF’s office in line with the policy directive issued in 2019 for proper management.

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Chukkol did not give details of the forfeited assets.

However, members of the committee kicked against the directive.

Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue) faulted the rationale for the transfer of forfeited assets to AGF, saying: “I don’t see management acumen in AGF that is not available in EFCC.”

He said the assets needed to be disposed off for government to raise money to finance the budget.

But the chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari, said the Proceed of Crime bill currently before the Senate would address the issue.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers expressed displeasure over meagre allocations to anti-graft agencies.

Senator Yusuf Yusuf (APC, Taraba) wondered how N31 billion could be enough to fight corruption in a country of over 200 million.

Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC, Kogi) said there was the need for EFCC to have offices in all the sensorial districts across the country.

This, he said, would make it easier for the anti-graft agency to get first-hand information.

Earlier, EFCC’s Director of Finance, Mohammed Joda, said N31.3 billion was proposed for the agency in 2022, of which N25.8 billion is earmarked for personnel cost, N3.6 billion for overhead and N1.8 billion for capital expenditure.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), headed by Mr Tukur Modibo, lamented the N350 million capital fund allocated to his agency in the 2022 budget.

Modibo appealed to the Senate for an upward review of the allocation to enable the agency to carry out its mandate without any hindrance.

The agency got N4 billion for personnel cost and N1 billion for overhead.

Also, the chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), said N12.9 billion was allocated to his agency in 2022.