A recently published government gazette has stripped the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt
Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of the powers to
seize assets of people being investigated.
According to the gazette, Vol. 106, No 163, titled, “Asset Tracing,
Recovery and Management Regulation 2019’’, dated October 29, 2019 such
powers have now been transferred to the Office of the Attorney-General
of the Federation (AGF).
Until now, the EFCC and the ICPC had the powers to initiate non-conviction based forfeiture.
“All non-conviction based forfeiture shall be conducted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
“Where a non-conviction based forfeiture procedure arises, the LEA (Law
Enforcement Agency) and ACAs (Anti-Corruption Agencies) shall transfer
the matter to the Office of the AGF,’’ the gazette states.
In addition, all seized assets shall be registered by all the
Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government while all final
forfeited assets recovered by agencies shall be handed over to the AGF
within 60 days from the commencement of the regulations of management.