The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has revealed its next move of verification of political office holders and top government officials’ assets they claimed in their declaration forms they tendered to the bureau as part of renewed anti corruption crusade in the country. Acting Chairman of the Bureau, Mr Murtala Aliyu-Kankia, made the declaration in Katsina state while monitoring the ongoing verification exercise yesterday.
According to Kankia, the exercise would cover all senior public office holders and senior civil servants including permanent secretaries, director-generals, directors and other top officials of government’s establishments.
In his statement, “I briefed the governor on why we are in Katsina. He is also keen in fighting corruption”.
He said, the exercise is targeted at identifying the genuineness of assets declared by political office holders and other senior civil servants on assumption of office so that at the end of their tenure of office, the CCB would know what it expects.
He explained this would add value to the anti- corruption crusade of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that after the exercise its personnel would go to the field to authenticate the assets declared by the officers.
Kankia added, “You know, some people have a tendency of under-declaration, anticipatory declaration and even non declaration of their assets.
“To detect these three aspects, we go to the field to find out where someone under-declared, or in anticipation of getting something declared he has a property.
“All these are offences. The person found wanting would be referred to the CCB tribunal for prosecution accordingly.
“The punishment is either for him to forfeit the property, banned from holding public office for 10 years or be asked to vacate the office he is occupying.
“We are on course, we are doing it for the good of the country and the people,” he said. (NAN)