The Senate proposes to strip the commission of economic and financial crimes (EFCC), independent corrupt practices and other related crimes commissions (ICPC) and other similar bodies of their powers to administer the product of the crime.
According to the proposed bill, their roles would be limited to the investigation, the prosecution of the suspects and the recovery of the product of the crime.
The bill seeks to amend the Law of Crime Products (recovery and management) of 2022, transferring the authority to administer the assets recovered from the anti-injack agencies to a new agency that would be established under legislation.
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The proposed legislation approved the second reading on Tuesday.
The Customs Service of EFCC, ICPC, Nigeria (NCS) and 15 other agencies are currently listed in sections 2, 3 and 4 of the existing law, with responsibilities ranging from investigation to seizures, recovery and management of criminal income.
The sponsor of the new bill, the Senator Adebule Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos-West), in its main debate, argued that transferring the power to administer the assets recovered to a separate agency would promote efficiency and transparency.
She noticed:
“This amendment seeks to guarantee transparency and controls and balances in the management of recovered assets designated as crime procedures, as well as the introduction of guiding policies and principles to create unified regulations and processes for the management and elimination of lost assets.
“It proposes the establishment of an agency responsible for the administration and management of assets and lost or recovered properties appointed as crime procedures. This centralized agency will collaborate with the directions of the crime proteles within the 18 government agencies mentioned in the LGO law as” relevant organizations. “
“In addition, it seeks to strengthen the Crime Protections Law when introducing amendments that provide the creation of a data bank for all the assets and lost properties for the Federal Government of Nigeria, under an automated system of lost asset management.
“This provision will be a significant addition, since the automated system will safely store information about all assets and properties that are the product of crime, offering controlled access to authorized institutions and agencies. This will improve effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and responsibility.”
Some senators raised objections, arguing that the bill would double the functions of the EFCC and other agencies that currently fight against corruption and economic crimes.
However, the majority supported the bill, which subsequently approved the second reading.
The session was chaired by the vice president of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin.
The bill was sent to the Justice Committee, Human Rights and Legal Affairs for greater legislative consideration.
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