Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has promised that all recovered assets will be periodically published, with their status and owners made public.
The assurance was given during a media briefing yesterday in Abuja ahead of the General Assembly of the African Asset Recovery Practitioners Forum (AARPF), scheduled under the auspices of the African Union.
Responding to questions from journalists on whether the commission was committed to periodically publishing recovered assets, the Director, Special Services, ICPC, Mohammed Hassan disclosed that nothing would be hidden.
Mohammed, who doubled as the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the forthcoming programme stated: “Anything recovered is for the public and so ICPC will definitely declare anything and whatever has been recovered. It’s a public document.”
He dismissed suggestions that practitioners were scared of developments in the sector, explaining that asset recovery had become an integral part of the fight against corruption all over the world.
According to him, it is not just about recovering assets, but ensuring that what was recovered is put to use for the benefit of the generality of the masses. “It is an aspect of the fight against corruption which the African Union is advancing,” he added.
On whether any other African country was leading Nigeria in asset recovery, he said some countries recovered their assets without public knowledge, making comparison difficult.
“Some of these countries recover their assets and you don’t know what they have recovered. We don’t know whether they are recovering assets or not. But however, when we meet like this, we have the opportunity to discuss in forums like this what has been recovered,” he explained.
He added that delegates would be taken to some places to understand what Nigeria had done with some recovered assets.
Speaking on measures to ensure proper implementation of recoveries, especially where foreign countries may be reluctant, he said such questions would be better addressed during the programme by officials of the African Union and the Local Organising Committee.
He, however, stressed that the purpose of the programme was to harmonise the fight against corruption, especially now that asset recovery had become an integral part of what anti-corruption agencies were doing all over the world.
“The purpose of the programme, like I said, is to harmonize, synergise, emphasise, come up with strategies, common ways to deal with this menace. Essentially, that’s what we are doing,” he said.
He disclosed that all African countries, about 52 to 54 – would attend the assembly.
