Submit asset declaration forms on May 28 or face prosecution, CCB tells Buhari, Osinbajo, govs

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has mandated President Muhammadu Buhari,  Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and other public officers whose tenure ends on May 29 must submit their end-of-tenure asset declaration forms on May 28, 2019.

The directive affects all public officials whose tenure ends on May 29, except the outgoing 8th National Assembly,  who still have until June 8, 2019 to declare their assets.

Paragraphs 1 to 16 of the Part II of the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution list the categories of public officers who must periodically declare their assets to the CCB.

However, those affected with closing of the 2015 – 2019 political dispensation by virtue of the constitutional provision are  the President,  Vice-President, President and Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Speakers and Deputy Speakers of  state Houses of Assembly and all members of legislative houses.

The rests are Governors and Deputy Governors, the  Attorney General of the Federation and Attorney General of each state, ministers, commissioners and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Paragraph 11 of the Part 1 to the Fifth Schedule to the  constitution compels public officers to declare their assets to the CCB “immediately after taking office and thereafter:

“(a) at the end of every four years; and

“(b) at the end of his term of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.”

The “guidelines” for assets declaration accessed on the website of the bureau on Friday says a declarant must declare  their  assets within 30 days of being issued the assets declaration form.

Paragraph 2, of the guidelines reads, “Every declarant is required by law to declare his/her assets/liability including that of his spouse(s) who is not a public officer and children under 18 years, honestly, sincerely and submit same to the bureau within 30 days of the receipt of the forms.”

Paragraph 7 of the guidelines added, “Every public officer is to note that it is the requirement of the law to declare his/her assets/liabilities on:

“(a) assumption of office;

“(b) At the end of his term of office, “(c) At interval of four years for public officers on continuous employment of government whether federal, state or local government:

“(d) and at such other intervals as the Bureau may determine from time to time.”

The Chief Press Officer of the CCB, Mrs Charity Utok, on Thursday, said  the incoming political office holders were given up to three months to make their declarations to the CCB, while the outgoing ones must do so as soon as they “step out” of office.

According to her, failure to do so at the appropriate time would be filing charges against such defaulters at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

She added, “Anyone who fails to declare  their assets will be taken before the tribunal.

“Those in the asset declaration section of the tribunal will compile their names and they will be charged before the tribunal for trial.”