The attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has undergone a routine verification of his assets declaration form. During the exercise at the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau in Abuja on Monday, Mr Fagbemi described his action as “leading by example”.

He added that the verification exercise underscored the federal government’s commitment to transparency and integrity in public service. The AGF clarified that the exercise was a routine verification of the asset declaration form he filed before assuming office, in line with the CCB’s constitutional mandate.

“Don’t forget that this is part of the anti-corruption crusade, drive and measures to ensure transparency and integrity in public service. An example is better than a precept. As the chief law officer of the nation, I believe it is my duty to ensure that this process is followed up. It will also give the required confidence to the members of the public, especially public officers, that they have the duty to participate in the anti-corruption drive of the government,” he said.

The AGF also clarified that his appearance was not an investigation, but a routine verification to reconcile any minor differences or slips. He encouraged public officers to cooperate with the process, noting that early verification will provide an opportunity to correct mistakes before they escalate.

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Justice would partner with the CCB to further advance the fight against corruption. While commending the CCB chairman, the minister acknowledged that “certain recoveries have been made” recently, a sign of the bureau’s effectiveness.

The chairman of CCB, Abdullahi Bello, expressed appreciation for the minister’s visit. According to him, the visit demonstrates the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to ethical public service.

Mr Bello also reiterated that the exercise was a verification and not an investigation. The CCB chairman disclosed that the bureau was in an advanced stage of transitioning from a manual, paper-based system to an online asset declaration system. He projected that the digital system would be operational by the first quarter of 2026.

“The online system is designed to link up with other databases, such as the BVN and taxation platforms, to facilitate automatic verification. The automated verification will save a lot of effort and resources for the bureau and the country. It will also simplify the process for the officials who are declaring their assets,” he said.

On the contentious issue of making asset declarations public, the chairman noted that the CCB is striving to strike a balance between transparency and privacy. He explained that the Constitution mandates the publication of declared assets, after a guideline by the National Assembly.

“The bureau is currently aligning with the National Assembly to arrive at a compromise that protects individuals’ privacy while upholding the need for public accountability,” he said.

(NAN)