From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
A coalition of 15 Nigerian civil society organizations has called on the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to strengthen the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Amendment Bill, 2025, to ensure transparency and accountability in asset recovery.
The groups, led by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), submitted a memorandum to the Senate Committee, highlighting concerns that the bill could concentrate unchecked discretion and undermine judicial integrity.
The memorandum, submitted during the public hearing on the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Amendment Bill, 2025, held on February 26, 2026, recommended several amendments to address overlapping jurisdictions, limited external oversight, and a lack of transparency in asset management.
The proposed amendments include biannual briefings to the National Assembly, a publicly accessible digital dashboard for asset tracking, and legislative oversight of investment decisions.
The CSOs also called for a statutory prohibition on board members and officers bidding for or benefiting from disposal contracts, as well as mandatory, competitive, and transparent disposal processes.
The 15 civil society organizations that signed the memorandum are: Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Grassroots Center for Rights & Civic Orientation (GRACO), Policy Alert, HipCity Innovation Centre, and Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development.
Others are the Dandalin Matasa’s initiative for rapid development and the Keen and Care Initiative. CHRICED, GEE Foundation for Social Justice and Development, New-life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI), New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), Good Governance Team Nigeria (GGT), and HEDA Resource Center.
Mr. Leo Atakpu, Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, read the statement on behalf of the coalition, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in asset recovery.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, SAN, assured that the Committee would consider the recommendations of the CSOs as it reviews the bill ahead of its final consideration.
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