The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has revealed that its newly established Financial Investigation and Fraud Analysis Unit (FIFAU) has investigated more than 500 asset declaration forms belonging to public officials across various government sectors.
The CCB Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Bello, disclosed this in a statement highlighting the bureau’s achievements in his first year in office.
According to Bello, the investigations—carried out as part of FIFAU’s first major assignment—uncovered several discrepancies in asset declarations, leading to enforcement actions against defaulting officials. He said the initiative aims to strengthen integrity and accountability within Nigeria’s public service.
Bello further disclosed that the bureau has verified the asset declaration forms of nine serving ministers, 43 permanent secretaries, and 40 federal directors, ensuring high-level compliance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
He explained that the verification exercise is ongoing, forming part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable and transparent asset monitoring system across all levels of government.
In the past year, the bureau also implemented an online asset declaration platform, which allows public servants to download and submit the CCB Form-1 through its official website. The digital transition, Bello said, has saved the agency millions of naira previously spent on printing manual forms and enhanced accessibility for civil servants nationwide.
To boost operational capacity, the bureau trained 199 staff members in areas including asset verification, forensic analysis, investigation, and ethical governance. Additionally, new zonal offices were established across the country, each headed by a Director responsible for intelligence gathering, investigations, prosecution support, and state-level supervision.
Bello emphasized that the CCB has also forged strategic partnerships with local and international anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). These collaborations, he said, are designed to strengthen enforcement and information-sharing mechanisms.
The bureau, he added, now represents Nigeria at major international anti-corruption platforms such as the Cambridge Economic Crime Forum and IVLO 2025 in the United States, where it showcases Nigeria’s ongoing reforms and seeks global support for its transparency drive.
In recognition of its growing influence, the CCB leadership has also been admitted into the Association of Commonwealth Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, reinforcing Nigeria’s role in regional anti-corruption initiatives.
Bello noted that his administration operates under a new guiding philosophy encapsulated in the bureau’s slogan: “Declare or Forfeit.”
He urged all public officers to adhere strictly to asset declaration requirements, maintain transparency in their financial dealings, and resist the temptation of corruption.
Dr. Bello, who assumed office on October 23, 2024, following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning the bureau, strengthening institutional integrity, and advancing Nigeria’s anti-corruption agenda.
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