Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has completed the verification of asset declarations submitted by 108 high-risk public officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies, its chairman, Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, has disclosed.
Bello made the disclosure in June 2026 during the graduation ceremony of the second cohort of Agora Policy’s Policy Writing Fellowship and the unveiling of the Local Governance Accountability Portal and Policy Registry in Abuja.
According to the CCB chairman, the verification exercise covered 19 ministers, 37 permanent secretaries, 20 heads of government agencies and 32 other high-risk public officials, bringing the total to 108.
The figures provide an update on the bureau’s ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance with Nigeria’s constitutional requirements on asset declaration and improve the monitoring of public officials.
CCB’s Asset Verification Exercise
The CCB is responsible for receiving and examining asset declarations by public officers and enforcing relevant provisions of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct.
The bureau’s official website states that asset declaration is a mandatory constitutional obligation for public officers. It says declarations are subject to verification by authorised CCB officers and that public officials are required to declare their assets at specified stages, including upon assumption of office, at the end of their tenure and at four-year intervals for officers in continuous government employment.
The latest verification figures disclosed by Bello show that the bureau is focusing significant attention on senior public officials considered to present higher compliance risks.
The 108 officials covered by the exercise were drawn from several categories of senior government personnel.
The breakdown comprises 19 ministers, 37 permanent secretaries, 20 heads of agencies and 32 other senior public officials.
The CCB has not indicated that all the officials involved committed wrongdoing. Verification of an asset declaration is an administrative and investigative process intended to determine whether declarations comply with legal requirements.
That distinction is important because discrepancies identified during verification may lead to further investigation or enforcement, but the existence of a verification exercise does not by itself establish misconduct by an individual official.
Digital Asset Declaration System
Bello also announced that the CCB’s Online Asset and Liabilities Declaration System had been fully developed and was ready for deployment and testing.
The system is intended to create a central digital database for asset declarations by public servants and reduce reliance on the bureau’s previous paper-based processes.
The development of the digital system forms part of wider reforms at the bureau aimed at modernising the management and verification of declarations.
The CCB had previously explained that its digital asset declaration reforms were designed to strengthen transparency and accountability in public service. Its website says the system is intended to support more efficient declaration and monitoring processes.
The bureau has also said that technology will play a greater role in asset verification and investigations.
In July 2026, Bello said the bureau was implementing an Online Assets Declaration System and using technology, including artificial intelligence-supported investigative tools, to improve verification and case management.
CCB’s Broader Enforcement Role
The latest verification exercise comes amid a broader push by the CCB to strengthen enforcement of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
In October 2025, the bureau said its Financial Investigation and Fraud Analysis Unit had reviewed more than 500 asset declaration forms.
At that time, Bello said the forms of at least nine ministers, 43 permanent secretaries and 40 federal directors had been verified, while the bureau continued its wider verification exercise.
The CCB said discrepancies identified during that earlier exercise could support enforcement actions against public officers where violations were established.
The bureau has also worked with other Nigerian institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Department of State Services and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, according to previous statements by Bello.
In June 2026, the CCB further said enforcement activities had resulted in the forfeiture of several assets, including a property in London, while some cases had been referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
What the Law Requires
Asset declaration is rooted in Nigeria’s constitutional framework governing the conduct of public officers.
The CCB says public officers must provide information on their assets and liabilities, including relevant information concerning spouses who are not public officers and children below 18 years.
The bureau also requires declarations to contain details such as the nature and value of properties, ownership information and other relevant financial interests.
Under the framework administered by the CCB, failure to comply with asset declaration requirements can have serious consequences.
The bureau lists possible sanctions, subject to due process and conviction where applicable, including removal from office, disqualification from holding public office, fines and forfeiture of property acquired through abuse of office or dishonesty.
These provisions are intended to create a formal mechanism through which the financial interests of public officers can be monitored and potential conflicts of interest or unexplained wealth can be investigated.
Why the Verification Matters
The verification of declarations by senior public officials is significant because ministers, permanent secretaries and agency heads occupy positions involving public resources, policy decisions and administrative authority.
Effective verification can help the relevant authorities identify inconsistencies between what officials declare and information available from other records.
The CCB has said its digital reforms will improve the ability of investigators to analyse declarations and verify information through government databases. The bureau has identified databases and records involving areas such as corporate registration, identity information, banking verification and land ownership as relevant to its technology-driven verification efforts.
At the same time, verification must remain subject to due process and appropriate privacy protections.
The CCB has previously said it supports responsible public access to governance information while protecting the privacy and security of asset declarants.
This balance is important because asset declarations contain sensitive financial and personal information.
A Continuing Process
The June 2026 disclosure does not represent the end of the CCB’s verification activities.
Bello has previously described the bureau’s verification work as continuous, with the objective of establishing a sustainable system for monitoring compliance with asset declaration requirements.
The bureau is also continuing to modernise its institutional operations.
In July 2026, Bello said the CCB was pursuing reforms covering asset verification, investigation, staff capacity and technology. The bureau said its risk-based approach prioritises cases according to indicators identified during compliance and investigative processes.
The CCB’s current reform programme therefore combines traditional declaration requirements with digital tools intended to make verification faster and more systematic.
What Happens Next
The next stage will depend on the outcome of individual verification exercises and whether investigators identify issues requiring further action.
Where discrepancies or suspected breaches are identified, the bureau may undertake additional investigation and, where appropriate, pursue enforcement through the relevant legal channels.
However, the CCB’s announcement that 108 high-risk officials have had their declarations verified should not be interpreted as a finding that all 108 officials violated the law.
The immediate significance of the announcement is that the bureau has completed a verification exercise covering a substantial group of senior public officials while continuing to develop a digital system for future declarations and verification.
For Nigeria’s accountability institutions, the effectiveness of the process will ultimately depend on the quality of verification, transparency within the limits of the law, consistent enforcement and respect for due process.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Code of Conduct Bureau — official information on asset declaration requirements and sanctions.
- The PUNCH — report on the CCB’s verification of 108 high-risk public officials and Bello’s June 2026 disclosure.
- Independent Newspaper — report on the same verification exercise and breakdown of officials covered.
- TheCable — report on CCB enforcement activities and the digital asset declaration system.
- Code of Conduct Bureau — information on its digital reforms and investigation systems.
